Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 8
अध्याय ७३: सूर्यपूजाविधिः
Sūrya-pūjā-vidhi — The Procedure for Sun-Worship
ॐ हं खं खोल्कयेति यजेदावाह्य भास्करं ललाटाकृष्टमञ्जल्यां ध्यात्वा रक्तं न्यसेद्रविं
oṃ haṃ khaṃ kholkayeti yajedāvāhya bhāskaraṃ lalāṭākṛṣṭamañjalyāṃ dhyātvā raktaṃ nyasedraviṃ
สวดว่า “โอม หัม คัม โขลกเย” แล้วอัญเชิญภาสกรเพื่อบูชา. ยกมือประนมขึ้นถึงหน้าผาก ภาวนาพระรวิเป็นสีแดง แล้วกระทำนยาสะแด่พระสุริยะ।
Lord Agni (in dialogue with Sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Gives an invocation-mantra and a bodily gesture/meditative protocol (añjali to forehead, red Sūrya visualization) for Sūrya-nyāsa and worship.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Bhāskara-āvāhana with ‘oṁ haṁ khaṁ kholkaye’ and lalāṭa-añjali dhyāna-nyāsa","lookup_keywords":["Bhāskara āvāhana","oṁ haṁ khaṁ kholkaye","lalāṭa añjali","raktaravi dhyāna","sūrya-nyāsa"],"quick_summary":"Invoke Bhāskara with the given mantra, lift joined palms to the forehead, meditate on the Sun as red, and perform nyāsa to install the solar presence in the ritual body/space."}
Concept: Embodied worship: mantra + mudrā/gesture + visualization culminate in nyāsa, making the body a locus of the deity.
Application: Use forehead-añjali to collect attention at ājñā region; keep the red-sun visualization steady while placing mantra to deepen invocation.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Surya/Aditya-upasana, Mantra-nyasa and Dhyanayoga)
Primary Rasa: Bhakti
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A devotee invokes Bhāskara with mantra, raises joined palms to the forehead, visualizes a red Sun-disc radiating, and performs nyāsa as the solar presence descends into the ritual space/body.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, priest in white dhoti with añjali at forehead, red sun deity emerging in halo, stylized rays, temple lamp and lotus motifs, warm palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, red Bhāskara in central medallion with heavy gold rays, devotee in añjali at forehead, ornate arch and gold embossing, rich reds and greens","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear depiction of gesture sequence (añjali to forehead), red sun-disc with subtle gradients, instructional composition with minimal ornament","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, devotee in courtyard at dawn, hands raised to forehead, red sun in sky with gilded rays, fine architectural background and delicate border"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Lalit","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: खोल्कयेति = खोल्कय + इति; यजेदावाह्य = यजेत् + आवाह्य; ललाटाकृष्टमञ्जल्यां = ललाट + आकृष्ट + मञ्जल्याम्; न्यसेद्रविं = न्यसेत् + रविम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Sūrya-upāsanā and nyāsa instructions in Puja-vidhi chapters
FAQs
It teaches a Surya-upasana practice: recite specific bīja-mantras, perform Bhāskara-āvāhana (invocation), use añjali raised to the forehead as a mudrā/gesture, meditate on the Sun’s red form, and then do nyāsa (ritual installation/placement).
Alongside mythology, the Agni Purana preserves practical ritual technology—mantra-prayoga, āvāhana, dhyāna, and nyāsa—functioning like a concise manual for deity-worship procedures.
By invoking and installing the Sun with mantra, gesture, and meditation, the practitioner aligns mind and rite (dhyāna + nyāsa), traditionally believed to purify intention, increase spiritual merit, and secure the Sun’s auspicious blessings (tejas, health, clarity).