Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 38
Chapter 33 — पवित्रारोहणविधानं
The Procedure for Pavitrārohaṇa / Installing the Sacred Thread or Consecratory Amulet
पूर्वसिद्धाः परसिद्धाः केशरेषु च शक्तयः लक्ष्मीः सरस्वती प्रीतिः कीर्तिः शान्तिश् च कान्तिका
pūrvasiddhāḥ parasiddhāḥ keśareṣu ca śaktayaḥ lakṣmīḥ sarasvatī prītiḥ kīrtiḥ śāntiś ca kāntikā
కేశరాలపై కూడా శక్తులను న్యసించాలి—పూర్వసిద్ధా, పరసిద్ధా; అనగా లక్ష్మీ, సరస్వతీ, ప్రీతి, కీర్తి, శాంతి మరియు కాంతికా.
Lord Agni (in dialogue tradition, instructing sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","practical_application":"Lotus-maṇḍala śakti-nyāsa: assigning named śaktis to the lotus filaments (keśara) as part of āvaraṇa-pūjā, strengthening specific auspicious qualities (śrī, vidyā, prīti, kīrti, śānti, kānti).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Keśara-śakti nyāsa: Lakṣmī–Sarasvatī–Prīti–Kīrti–Śānti–Kāntikā (+ siddhi pairs)","lookup_keywords":["keśara","śakti-nyāsa","lakṣmī","sarasvatī","kīrti"],"quick_summary":"Place/meditate upon specific śaktis on the lotus filaments—Lakṣmī, Sarasvatī, Prīti, Kīrti, Śānti, Kāntikā—along with pūrva/para-siddhi, to complete the lotus āvaraṇa and invoke their corresponding boons."}
Concept: Qualities and attainments (siddhi) are ritualized as śaktis; by nyāsa on the lotus, the sādhaka integrates prosperity, knowledge, affection, fame, peace, and radiance.
Application: During pūjā, mentally assign each śakti to a filament/petal while offering flowers; use the names as a japa-list to cultivate the corresponding inner dispositions.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Devata-nyasa (Lotus-maṇḍala and śakti-nyāsa context)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A lotus mandala seen from above: filaments/petals each bearing a small goddess labeled Lakṣmī, Sarasvatī, Prīti, Kīrti, Śānti, Kāntikā; two additional siddhi-figures marking pūrva/para-siddhi.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural of a radiant lotus: each petal hosts a small śakti goddess, Lakṣmī and Sarasvatī emphasized with vīṇā and lotuses, earthy palette, thick contours, symmetrical mandala layout.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore mandala-lotus: embossed gold outlines on petals, jeweled centers, miniature śakti figures with gold halos, inscriptions of names, rich crimson background.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style schematic lotus: clean petal divisions, readable labels for each śakti, gentle pastel shading, suitable as a ritual instruction plate.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature top-view lotus garden motif transformed into a mandala: delicate female figures on petals with fine textiles, calligraphic labels, intricate border patterns."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shuddha Saveri","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: No major sandhi beyond standard visarga before ca: śāntiś ca = śāntiḥ + ca.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 33 (lotus-maṇḍala nyāsa sequence); Adjacent nyāsa lists in 33.39 (Puṣṭi/Tuṣṭi etc.)
FAQs
It gives a nyāsa-style placement rule: specific personified Śaktis (Lakṣmī, Sarasvatī, Prīti, Kīrti, Śānti, Kāntikā) are to be installed/visualized on the lotus filaments (keśara) within a padma-maṇḍala used in pūjā.
Beyond mythology, it catalogs ritual micro-structures (mandala parts like petals/filaments) and assigns abstract qualities as deities, preserving a practical manual of worship technology (pūjā-vidhi, nyāsa, devatā-vinyāsa).
Installing these Śaktis ritually is intended to invoke prosperity, learning, harmony, renown, peace, and inner radiance—purifying the practitioner’s intention and aligning worship with auspicious virtues (śubha-guṇas).