Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 9
Chapter 72 — स्नानविशेषादिकथनम्
Special Rules of Bathing, Mantra-Purification, and Sandhyā
शिवेन दशधा सौम्यं जपेद्भागत्रयं क्रमात् सर्वदिक्षु क्षिपेत् पूर्वं हूं फडन्तशरात्मना
śivena daśadhā saumyaṃ japedbhāgatrayaṃ kramāt sarvadikṣu kṣipet pūrvaṃ hūṃ phaḍantaśarātmanā
เมื่ออธิษฐานด้วยศิวมนตร์แล้ว พึงสวดมนตร์สೌมยะสิบครั้ง และวางสามส่วนของมันตามลำดับ; จากนั้นก่อนอื่นให้แผ่ไปทุกทิศเป็นมนตร์รูปศรที่ลงท้ายด้วย “หูṃ” และ “ผัฏ”.
Lord Agni (in instruction to Sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Mantra-empowerment and projection: prefix with Śiva, recite Saumya ten times, apply three parts sequentially, then project to all directions as an arrow-mantra ending in hūṃ and phaṭ for protection and obstacle-clearing.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Daśāvara-japa of Saumya with Śiva-prefix and Dik-kṣepa (Hūṃ Phaṭ)","lookup_keywords":["śiva-mantra","saumya","daśadha-japa","hūṃ phaṭ","dik-kṣepa"],"quick_summary":"Empower the Saumya formula with Śiva, repeat it tenfold, apply its three segments in order, and cast it to all directions as an arrow-form mantra ending with hūṃ and phaṭ to establish protection."}
Alamkara Type: Utpreksha
Weapon Type: Arrow (mantra-śara)
Concept: Mantra requires saṃskāra (prefix/empowerment), saṅkhyā (count), krama (sequence), and kṣepa (projection) to become effective.
Application: Before worship or travel, perform counted japa and directional casting with hūṃ-phaṭ to establish a protective perimeter and mental steadiness.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Mantra-kalpa (Tantric protective rites and mantra-projection)
Primary Rasa: Veera
Secondary Rasa: Shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sādhaka stands centered, reciting with a Śiva-prefixed formula; three mantra segments appear as bands; then luminous arrow-mantras shoot outward to the eight directions, each tipped with ‘hūṃ’ and ‘phaṭ’.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, central figure with trident/Śiva aura behind, arrows of light radiating to directions, stylized syllables hūṃ and phaṭ at arrowheads, bold lines and sacred geometry.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-embossed directional arrows, central devotee with subtle Śiva symbolism, ornate frame, mantra syllables rendered as decorative gold calligraphy.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore, instructional scene with compass rose, three-part mantra bands labeled, ten-count japa indicated by beads, arrows cast to all directions with hūṃ-phaṭ at tips; clean didactic layout.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined figure in courtyard, delicate rays/arrows to cardinal and intercardinal points, calligraphic hūṃ/phaṭ in cartouches, balanced composition and fine detailing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"apotropaic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: japedbhāgatrayaṃ → japet bhāga-trayam; sarvadikṣu → sarva-dikṣu; phaḍantaśarātmanā → phaḍ-anta-śara-ātmanā.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 72 (astra usage; mudrā/nyāsa; directional rites)
FAQs
It teaches a protective mantra-practice: recite an appeasing (saumya) mantra ten times, apply its three parts sequentially, and then “cast” it to all directions as an arrow-like projection, sealed with the bīja “hūṃ” and the exclamation “phaṭ.”
Beyond mythic narration, it preserves operational ritual technology—counts of japa, sequencing of mantra-parts, and directional deployment (dik-bandhana)—showing the text’s breadth across liturgy, mantra-kalpa, and practical protective rites.
The act of directional casting with “hūṃ/phaṭ” functions as a ritual safeguard—purifying and sealing the practitioner’s space, warding obstacles, and stabilizing the rite so it can proceed without harmful interference.