Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 21
Chapter 64 — कूपादिप्रतिष्ठाकथनं
The Account of the Consecration of Wells and Other Water-Works
व्याहृत्या वाथ गायत्र्या मूलेनामन्त्रयेत्तथा सूर्याय प्रजापतये द्यौः स्वाहा चान्तरिक्षकः
vyāhṛtyā vātha gāyatryā mūlenāmantrayettathā sūryāya prajāpataye dyauḥ svāhā cāntarikṣakaḥ
ต่อจากนั้นพึงทำการอภิมนตรณ์ด้วยวยาหฤติหรือด้วยคายตรี และด้วยมูลมนตร์ด้วยเช่นกัน สำหรับสุริยะและประชาปติให้กล่าวว่า ‘ทยุห์ สวาหา’ และสำหรับอันตริกษะด้วย
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Jyotisha","practical_application":"Mantra-prayoga for homa: consecration/invocation using Vyāhṛtis or Gāyatrī and the mūla-mantra, with specific svāhā offerings to cosmic deities/regions (Sūrya, Prajāpati, Dyauḥ, Antarikṣa).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Mantra","entry_title":"Vyāhṛti/Gāyatrī-based Āmantraṇa and Svāhā Offerings to Sūrya–Prajāpati–Dyauḥ–Antarikṣa","lookup_keywords":["vyahriti","gayatri","mula-mantra","surya-svaha","prajapati-dyauh-antariksha"],"quick_summary":"Invoke with Vyāhṛtis or Gāyatrī and the root-mantra, then perform svāhā offerings addressed to Sūrya, Prajāpati, Dyauḥ (heaven), and Antarikṣa (mid-region)."}
Concept: Mantra as a bridge between micro-ritual and macrocosm: vyāhṛtis and gāyatrī align the sacrificer with the three worlds and their regulators.
Application: Use as a mantra-sequence template for homa where cosmic deities/regions must be explicitly satisfied before/alongside the main deity.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Mantra-prayoga and Homa/Anusthana procedures)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A homa priest seated before a blazing kuṇḍa, chanting Vyāhṛtis and Gāyatrī, then offering ladlefuls with ‘svāhā’ to Sūrya and Prajāpati; above, symbolic bands of Dyauḥ and Antarikṣa depicted as heaven and mid-sky.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, priest by fire altar, stylized sun-disc for Sūrya, Prajāpati as luminous creator figure, layered sky zones labeled Dyauḥ and Antarikṣa in traditional iconographic clouds, warm ochres and reds","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, radiant Sūrya with gold halo, Prajāpati enthroned subtly behind, central homa fire with gold highlights, priest offering svāhā, ornate frame and temple arch","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear didactic composition: priest, kuṇḍa, mantra scroll motif showing Vyāhṛtis/Gāyatrī, icons for Dyauḥ (upper sky) and Antarikṣa (middle band), neat detailing","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined ritual scene with celestial margin: sun medallion, airy mid-sky band, priest in profile offering into fire, delicate calligraphic mantra cartouches"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Suryakant (or Lalit)","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: मूलेनामन्त्रयेत् → मूलेन + आमन्त्रयेत्; चान्तरिक्षकः → च + अन्तरिक्षकः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana mantra-prayoga sections for homa; vyāhṛti-nyāsa and gāyatrī usage in pūjā (same khanda)
FAQs
It prescribes a mantra-prayoga: ritually charging the act (āmantraṇa) using Vyāhṛtis or the Gāyatrī, together with the rite’s mūla-mantra, and directing offerings/recitations to cosmic deities—Sūrya, Prajāpati, Dyauḥ, and Antarikṣa—using the homa call “svāhā.”
It exemplifies the Agni Purāṇa’s procedural cataloging of ritual technology—specific mantra options (Vyāhṛti/Gāyatrī/mūla-mantra) and deity-targeted invocations—showing how the text functions as a practical manual alongside its broader mythic and doctrinal materials.
By aligning the rite with Vedic mantra-forms and cosmic principles (heaven and mid-space, sun and progenitor), the practitioner is taught to purify intention and action, stabilize the offering, and accrue merit through correctly addressed oblations and sanctified recitation.