Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 66
Agnisthāpana-vidhi (Procedure for Establishing the Sacred Fire) and Protective Īśāna-kalpa Homa Sequences
नैरृते विष्णवे स्वाहा वायसादेर्वहिर्बलिः बलिद्वयगतान्मन्त्रान् संहारमुद्रयाअत्मनि
nairṛte viṣṇave svāhā vāyasādervahirbaliḥ balidvayagatānmantrān saṃhāramudrayāatmani
ในทิศไนฤต (ตะวันตกเฉียงใต้) พึงถวายอาหุติด้วยมนต์ “วิษณเว สวาหา” และวางบลีภายนอกสำหรับกาเป็นต้น จากนั้นพึงดึงมนต์ที่ใช้ในบลีทั้งสองกลับเข้าสู่ตนด้วยสังหารมุทรา (กิริยามุทราแห่งการหดกลับ)
Lord Agni (in discourse to the sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the usual Agni Purana narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Perform bali in the nairṛta quarter with a specific mantra and then ritually retract (saṃhāra) the deployed mantras back into oneself to close the offering sequence and prevent mantra-leakage.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Nairṛta-bali to Viṣṇu and Saṃhāra-mudrā mantra-retraction","lookup_keywords":["nairrita bali","vishnave svaha","vayasa bali","samhara mudra","mantra-samharana"],"quick_summary":"Offer bali in the southwest with the mantra to Viṣṇu and an external bali for crows/outsiders; then withdraw the mantras used in both offerings into the self using Saṃhāra-mudrā to ritually seal the act."}
Concept: Mantra is treated as a deployed power that must be properly concluded; saṃhāra (retraction) restores inner sovereignty and prevents residual dispersion.
Application: After bali/offerings, perform saṃhāra-mudrā with inward recollection to ‘close’ the rite, especially when offerings are made to peripheral beings (crows, bhūtas).
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Bali, Mantra, Mudra and Dikpala-related offerings)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Type: Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A priest places a small bali offering in the southwest corner and another outside the main ritual boundary for crows; then he performs Saṃhāra-mudrā, drawing hands inward toward the heart as if retracting mantra-energy back into himself.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: temple courtyard with outer bali-sthāna; crows near the offering; priest in profile making inward saṃhāra gesture; strong outlines, ritual implements (bali bowl, lamp) clearly shown.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: priest and bali vessels with gold highlights; southwest corner marked; crows rendered stylized; dramatic inward hand-gesture with embossed gold accents on ornaments and vessels.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: diagrammatic yet elegant—two bali points (inner and outer) and a clear depiction of Saṃhāra-mudrā; soft colors, fine linework, instructional labels.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: courtyard scene with precise architecture; small group of crows at the periphery; priest performing inward gesture; delicate brushwork and patterned textiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shree","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वायसादेर्वहिर्बलिः = वायसादेः + वहिः + बलिः. बलिद्वयगतान्मन्त्रान् = बलिद्वयगतान् + मन्त्रान्. संहारमुद्रयाअत्मनि = संहारमुद्रया + आत्मनि.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Bali-vidhi sections (types of bali, placement, recipients); Agni Purana: Mudrā-vidhi/nyāsa sections (saṃhāra, sthāpana, saṃhāra-krama)
FAQs
It teaches a dik-bali step: offering “Viṣṇave svāhā” in the south-west, placing an external bali for crows and similar beings, and then ritually retracting the used mantras into the practitioner via Saṃhāra-mudrā.
It preserves precise procedural details—directional placement, recipient categories (crows etc.), mantra-use, and mudrā-based closure—showing the Purana functioning as a practical ritual handbook alongside its theological material.
The external bali pacifies and properly apportions offerings to direction-linked beings, while the Saṃhāra-mudrā withdraws and seals the mantra-energy, completing the rite in a purified, controlled manner.