Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 37
Chapter 303: Mantras for Worship Beginning with the Five-syllable (Pañcākṣara) — पञ्चाक्षरादिपूजामन्त्राः
शिवाग्निं जनयित्वेष्ट्वा पुनः शिष्येण चार्चयेत् ध्यानेनात्मनिभं शिष्यं संहृत्य प्रलयः क्रमात्
śivāgniṃ janayitveṣṭvā punaḥ śiṣyeṇa cārcayet dhyānenātmanibhaṃ śiṣyaṃ saṃhṛtya pralayaḥ kramāt
ครั้นก่อกำเนิดศิวอัคนีและบูชาแล้ว พึงให้ศิษย์บูชาอีกครั้งหนึ่ง ต่อจากนั้นด้วยสมาธิทำให้ศิษย์เป็นอันหนึ่งอันเดียวกับตนแล้วดึงกลับเข้าสู่ตน จึงเกิดลำดับแห่งปรลัยตามครรลอง
Lord Agni (teaching Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Perform Shaiva-agni generation and worship, then have the disciple worship; conclude with meditative reabsorption (laya) of the disciple into the guru/Atman, proceeding through a pralaya-like dissolution sequence.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Śivāgni Generation, Disciple Worship, and Laya (Pralaya-Krama)","lookup_keywords":["shivagni","diksha","laya","pralaya-krama","atmaikya"],"quick_summary":"After generating and worshipping the Śiva-fire, the disciple repeats worship; then the guru performs meditative absorption, making the disciple identical with the Self and dissolving the constructed cosmos in ordered sequence."}
Concept: Atmaikya (identity with the Self) is enacted ritually: creation of sacred fire, worship, then dissolution of differentiated identity through laya/pralaya-krama.
Application: Use guided meditation after ritual worship to internalize the rite—progressively withdraw attention from outer forms into non-dual identity.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Shaiva–Agni ritual; Tantric initiation and dissolution practice)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A blazing ritual fire visualized as Śiva; guru worships, then disciple offers; finally the scene shifts to a meditative absorption where disciple’s form dissolves into the guru’s luminous self.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Śiva-fire as a radiant lingam-like flame, guru and disciple in worship posture, then a second panel-like depiction of subtle-body dissolution into a central light, strong reds and blacks.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central golden flame as Śiva, ornate puja vessels, disciple offering, background haloed; subtle overlay of merging silhouettes to suggest atmaikya.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, sequential instructional composition: (1) generate Śivāgni, (2) worship by guru and disciple, (3) meditation with dissolving outlines, fine detailing and calm palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate ritual chamber with fire altar, guru-disciple interaction, then ethereal wash showing the disciple fading into a luminous figure, delicate shading and architectural detail."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: जनयित्वेष्ट्वा = जनयित्वा + इष्ट्वा (आ + इ → ए). ध्यानेनात्मनिभं = ध्यानेन + आत्मनिभम् (अ + आ → आ).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 303 (bhuta-shuddhi/tattva-laya context); Agni Purana Shaiva/Tantric diksha passages on laya and pralaya-krama
FAQs
It gives a precise puja-sequence: ritually generate the Śiva-identified sacred fire (śivāgni), perform worship/offerings, have the disciple perform worship again, and then complete the rite through meditative withdrawal (saṃhāra) culminating in a stepwise pralaya-krama.
Alongside its many subjects, the Agni Purana preserves practical ritual technology: external fire-worship (arcana/iṣṭi) integrated with internal yogic completion (dhyāna and saṃhāra), showing how liturgy, initiation pedagogy (guru–śiṣya), and metaphysical cosmology (pralaya) are taught together.
The instruction frames worship as ending in non-dual reabsorption: the disciple is contemplated as identical with the guru/self (ātmanibha), and the rite concludes by dissolving all constructed forms in ordered withdrawal—aiming at purification, completion of the ritual cycle, and realization-oriented closure.