Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 26
Chapter 78 — पवित्रारोहणकथनं
Pavitrārohaṇa: Installing the Sanctifying Thread/Garland
अत्यर्थं भावयेद्देवं ज्ञानखद्गकरो गुरुः नैरृतीं दिशमासाद्य प्रक्षिपेदुदगाननः
atyarthaṃ bhāvayeddevaṃ jñānakhadgakaro guruḥ nairṛtīṃ diśamāsādya prakṣipedudagānanaḥ
เมื่อหันหน้าไปทางทิศเหนือ อาจารย์ผู้ถือ “ดาบแห่งญาณ” ในมือ พึงเพ่งภาวนาเทพเจ้าอย่างยิ่ง; แล้วจึงไปยังทิศไนฤติ (ตะวันตกเฉียงใต้) และทำการโปรย/ทิ้งเครื่องบูชาตามพิธีลง ณ ที่นั้น
Lord Agni (instructing the sage, in the Agni Purana’s ritual-technical discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Directional (dik) placement and ritual projection (prakshepa) during nyasa/puja, with the officiant oriented correctly and maintaining focused dhyana.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Dhyana with North-facing Guru and Nairriti Prakshepa","lookup_keywords":["dhyana","udag-anana","nairriti","prakshepa","jnana-khadga"],"quick_summary":"The officiant faces north for intense deity-contemplation, then approaches the south-west (Nairriti) quarter to cast the prescribed ritual projection/offering there."}
Alamkara Type: Rupaka
Weapon Type: Sword (as metaphor)
Concept: Ekagrata (intense contemplation) precedes external ritual action; knowledge is the true 'weapon' guiding rite.
Application: Train the officiant to stabilize attention (bhavana) before performing any directional act, reducing ritual error and mental distraction.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Deva-dhyana, Dik-nirdesha, Nyasa/Prakshepa procedures)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Type: Sacred space orientation (dik) within mandala/mandapa
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A guru-priest faces north in meditation, holding a symbolic sword of knowledge; then he steps to the south-west corner of a ritual square and casts a small offering/projection there.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat vivid colors, a calm acharya facing north in dhyana with a glowing jnana-khadga, mandala floor markings, south-west corner emphasized, traditional ornaments, sacred ambience","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold leaf highlights on the jnana-khadga and ritual mandala borders, priest in silk, north-facing posture, south-west corner with small offering cast, rich temple interior","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, delicate linework, instructional clarity: labeled directions on a square mandala, priest first seated north-facing then standing at south-west performing prakshepa, minimal background","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed pavilion with compass-like directions, priest with symbolic sword, sequential action implied, fine textiles, architectural perspective, subdued palette"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: भावयेद्देवं = भावयेत् + देवम्; दिशमासाद्य = दिशम् + आसाद्य; प्रक्षिपेदुदगाननः = प्रक्षिपेत् + उदगाननः; उदगाननः = उदग् + आननः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 78 (Puja-vidhi: dik-nirdesha, nyasa/prakshepa sequence)
FAQs
It teaches a dhyāna-based ritual step: the guru visualizes the deity intensely, maintains a north-facing posture, and performs a prescribed prakṣepa (casting/projection) toward the south‑western (Nairṛti) quarter as part of directional ritual procedure.
Beyond mythic narration, it preserves precise operational ritual details—orientation (north-facing), quarter-specific action (Nairṛti), and the guru’s function—showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of applied liturgy, dik-nirdesha, and mantra/karma procedure.
The instruction links inner contemplation (bhāvana/dhyāna) with an outward, direction-specific act, implying purification and harmonization of space by ritually addressing the Nairṛti quarter—traditionally associated with obstacles—under the guidance of knowledge (jñāna) embodied by the guru.