Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 25
Chapter 72 — स्नानविशेषादिकथनम्
Special Rules of Bathing, Mantra-Purification, and Sandhyā
स्वधान्तैर् आत्मतत्त्वाद्यैस्ततः खानि स्पृशेद्धृदा शकलीकरणं कृत्वा प्राणायामेन संस्थितः
svadhāntair ātmatattvādyaistataḥ khāni spṛśeddhṛdā śakalīkaraṇaṃ kṛtvā prāṇāyāmena saṃsthitaḥ
จากนั้นด้วยมนต์ที่ลงท้ายว่า “สวธา” เริ่มด้วยอาตมตัตตวะ (หลักแห่งอาตมัน) ให้ผู้นั้นตั้งจิตมั่นแล้วแตะต้องทวาร/ช่องต่าง ๆ แห่งกาย เมื่อประกอบพิธีศกลีกรณะ (การแบ่งวางเป็นส่วน ๆ) แล้ว จงดำรงมั่นในปราณายามะ (การกำกับลมหายใจ)
Lord Agni (teaching ritual procedure to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Pūjā-vidhi for internal purification: mantra-sparśa of bodily apertures, śakalīkaraṇa (ritual segmentation/placement), and stabilization through prāṇāyāma before further nyāsa and worship.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Svadhā-anta Mantra-sparśa, Śakalīkaraṇa, and Prāṇāyāma in Pūjā","lookup_keywords":["svadhā-anta mantra","ātma-tattva","kha-sparśa (touching apertures)","śakalīkaraṇa","prāṇāyāma"],"quick_summary":"After invoking tattva-mantras ending in svadhā (beginning with ātma-tattva), the sādhaka ritually touches the bodily apertures, performs śakalīkaraṇa (placing/dividing the body into mantra-parts), and steadies the rite by prāṇāyāma."}
Concept: Deha as mantra-mandala: purification and stabilization of awareness through tattva-mantras and regulated breath.
Application: Use prāṇāyāma to steady attention before nyāsa/dhyāna; treat the body as a ritually consecrated field by systematic mantra-touch.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Tantric/Mantra Ritual Procedure)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sādhaka seated in ritual posture, reciting svadhā-ending tattva-mantras, touching the bodily apertures in sequence, then performing śakalīkaraṇa (visualized segmentation of the body into mantra-loci) and settling into prāṇāyāma.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style: austere sādhaka with sacred thread, palm-leaf manuscript nearby, subtle depiction of mantra-syllables around the body’s apertures, warm earth pigments, minimal background shrine lamp.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting: seated sādhaka before a small altar, gold-leaf halo-like aura around the torso marking nyāsa points, ornate ritual vessels, rich reds and greens, embossed gold detailing on mantra-circles.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting: instructional diagram-like composition—sādhaka touching apertures in order, labeled nyāsa points, soft shading, delicate linework, calm interior pūjā room.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: courtly yet devotional interior, sādhaka on a carpet with rosary and water-pot, fine calligraphic mantra motifs near the body, detailed textiles, subdued palette."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Ahir Bhairav","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: svadhāntair → svadhāntaiḥ; ātmatattvādyaistataḥ → ātma-tattva-ādyaiḥ + tataḥ; spṛśeddhṛdā → spṛśet + hṛdā.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 72 (Pūjā-vidhi: nyāsa, dhyāna, sandhyā procedures)
FAQs
It teaches a purification sequence combining mantra-application (svadhā-ending mantras beginning with Ātma-tattva), ritual touching of bodily apertures (khāni) akin to nyāsa, followed by śakalīkaraṇa (systematic ‘placing/dividing’ of mantra or elemental principles) and stabilization through prāṇāyāma.
It integrates yogic technique (prāṇāyāma) with detailed ritual technology (mantra sequences, nyāsa-like touch, and śakalīkaraṇa), showing how the Agni Purana preserves both spiritual practice and precise liturgical method within a single instructional framework.
The act of sealing/purifying the senses and apertures through mantra and disciplined breath-control is presented as an inner cleansing that steadies the mind, restrains sensory outflow, and prepares the practitioner for effective worship—thereby increasing ritual purity and spiritual efficacy.