Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 20
Chapter 56 — दिक्पालयागकथनम्
Account of the Worship of the Guardians of the Directions
अग्निमूर्धेतिमन्त्रेण यजेद्वा आग्नेय नमः महिषस्थ यमागच्छ दण्डहस्त महाबल
agnimūrdhetimantreṇa yajedvā āgneya namaḥ mahiṣastha yamāgaccha daṇḍahasta mahābala
พึงบูชาด้วยมนต์ที่ขึ้นต้นว่า “อัคนิมูรธา…” หรือกล่าวว่า “นโมแด่อาคเนยะ” แล้วจึงอัญเชิญว่า “โอ้ยมะผู้ประทับเหนือกระบือ จงเสด็จมา ผู้ทรงทัณฑ์ในพระหัตถ์ ผู้มีกำลังยิ่งใหญ่”
Lord Agni (narrating Agni Purana’s ritual instructions, traditionally to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Mantra-kalpa for appeasement/protection: worship using the Vedic ‘Agnimūrdhā…’ mantra (or Agneya salutation), then invoke Yama (buffalo-mounted, staff-bearing) for ritual completeness and directional/ethical restraint.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Mantra","entry_title":"Agnimūrdhā-mantra worship and Yama-āvāhana (mahīṣa-vāhana, daṇḍahasta)","lookup_keywords":["Agnimūrdhā mantra","Agneya namah","Yama āvāhana","mahīṣa vāhana","daṇḍahasta"],"quick_summary":"Employ the ‘Agnimūrdhā…’ Vedic mantra (or Agneya salutation) in worship, then invoke Yama with his buffalo mount and staff emblem—integrating fire-rite sanctity with restraint and protection."}
Weapon Type: Daṇḍa (staff) as emblem of punishment/discipline
Concept: Agni (sacrifice) and Yama (niyama/daṇḍa) together signify sanctity plus ethical restraint—ritual power must be governed by dharma.
Application: Use Vedic-rooted mantras for legitimacy and invoke regulating deities (like Yama) in protective/appeasement contexts to avert doṣa and fear-causing omens.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Mantra-kalpa (Yama-sadhana, protective and appeasement rites)
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A priest performs worship with the ‘Agnimūrdhā…’ mantra before a fire altar; then Yama appears as a formidable deity on a buffalo holding a staff, receiving invocation and offerings.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, blazing Agni at the altar with flame-crown motif, priest chanting, Yama emerging in dark yet dignified tones on a buffalo with daṇḍa, strong contrast of fire-red and deep indigo","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold flames around Agni altar, Yama richly ornamented with gold highlights, buffalo mount detailed, priest offering ghee/flowers, dramatic sacred composition","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear two-part instructional scene: (1) Agni-mantra worship at fire, (2) Yama invocation with buffalo and staff; fine linework, readable ritual implements","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, night-lit ritual with fire glow, Yama on buffalo in a clouded vignette, priest and assistants with offerings, intricate architectural setting and textiles"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अग्निमूर्धेतिमन्त्रेण→अग्निमूर्धे + इति + मन्त्रेण; यजेद्वा→यजेत् + वा; यमागच्छ→यम + आगच्छ।
Related Themes: Agni Purana 56 (mantra-kalpa within pūjā-vidhi; successive invocations)
FAQs
It teaches a specific mantra-prayoga: worship using the Vedic Agni-opening “Agnimūrdhā…” (or a shorter Agneya-namaḥ salutation) and a formal devatā-āhvāna (invocation) of Yama with iconographic identifiers (buffalo seat, staff in hand).
It exemplifies the Agni Purana’s manual-like coverage of applied religion—giving compact, operational instructions for mantra selection, deity-address, and visualization—bridging Vedic mantra usage with Purāṇic/tantric-style invocatory procedure.
By correctly invoking Agni/Agneya and Yama through prescribed formulas, the rite is understood to promote purification, restraint (yama as moral order), and protection from disorder associated with death and transgression, aligning the practitioner with dharma.