Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 33
Agnisthāpana-vidhi (Procedure for Establishing the Sacred Fire) and Protective Īśāna-kalpa Homa Sequences
धृताभ्यां सम्मुखं वह्नेरस्त्रेणाप्लवमाचरेत् हृदात्मसम्मुखं तद्वत् कुर्यात् सम्प्लवनन्ततः
dhṛtābhyāṃ sammukhaṃ vahnerastreṇāplavamācaret hṛdātmasammukhaṃ tadvat kuryāt samplavanantataḥ
ประคองมือทั้งสองตามกำหนด แล้วหันหน้าเข้าหาไฟ ทำพิธี ‘อปลวะ’ ด้วยมนต์อัสตระ (มนต์อาวุธ) เช่นเดียวกัน เมื่อหันหน้าเข้าหาหทัยและอาตมันภายในแล้ว จึงทำ ‘สัมปลวะนะ’ คือการแผ่คลุม/แทรกซึมอย่างสมบูรณ์
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Protective rite using astra-mantra: perform aplava facing the fire with prescribed hand posture, then perform samplavana facing the heart/self—used for sealing the ritual space, warding obstacles, and internal armor (kavaca-like pervasion).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Aplava and Samplavana by Astra-mantra (external and internal sealing)","lookup_keywords":["astra-mantra","aplava","samplavana","vahni-sammukha","hṛdaya-sammukha"],"quick_summary":"Use the astra-mantra to execute an external protective action before the fire, then repeat internally toward the heart to achieve complete pervasion—linking ritual protection with inner psychic sealing."}
Weapon Type: Astra (mantra-weapon)
Concept: Outer and inner protection are homologous: the same mantra-śakti that seals the yajña-space must also pervade the practitioner’s heart to prevent leakage of attention and prāṇa.
Application: Before intense mantra/homa, perform a brief external ‘astra’ sealing and then an internal heart-directed sealing to maintain focus and reduce fear/interruptions.
Khanda Section: Agneya-vidya (Mantra-Astra Prayoga / Protective Rites)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Practitioner stands or sits facing the blazing homa fire, hands held in a firm mudrā, projecting an invisible ‘astra’ barrier; then turns inward, hands near chest, directing the same protective force to the heart region.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, dynamic stance before fire, bold lines showing protective arc from hands, then second vignette with hands at heart, calm but powerful aura","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold radiance around hands and heart, flame altar central, embossed protective circle motif (digbandhana) around the scene","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, step-by-step instructional panels: (1) facing fire aplava with astra, (2) facing heart samplavana; clear hand positions and directional arrows","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed ritual chamber, priest gesturing as if casting a weapon of light, translucent circular barrier around fire, then intimate heart-focused gesture"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"focused","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वह्नेरस्त्रेण = वह्नेः + अस्त्रेण; अस्त्रेणाप्लवम् = अस्त्रेण + अप्लवम्; अप्लवमाचरेत् = अप्लवम् + आचरेत्; हृदात्मसम्मुखम् = हृद् + आत्म + सम्मुखम्
Related Themes: Agni Purana 75 (Agneya-vidyā protective subsequence); Agni Purana mantra-kavaca/nyāsa related passages (where astra is used for digbandhana)
FAQs
It teaches a two-step astra-mantra procedure: first performing an ‘aplava’ rite while facing the sacred fire, and then internalizing the same act by performing ‘samplavana’ while facing the heart/inner self.
It shows the Agni Purana’s technical cataloging of applied ritual technology—precise directions (stance/orientation, sequence, and mantra-tool use) combining external fire-rite practice with an internal, yogic-ritual application.
By shifting from fire-facing ritual to heart-facing ritual, the verse frames protection/purification as both outer sacramental action and inner consecration—aimed at sealing the practitioner with mantra-born safeguarding and sanctity.