Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 17
Chapter 81 — समयदीक्षाविधानम्
Procedure for Samaya Initiation
पूजनं मन्त्रशिद्धिञ्च पञ्चगव्यञ्च पूर्ववत् लाजचन्दनसिद्धार्थभस्मदूर्वाक्षतं कुशान्
pūjanaṃ mantraśiddhiñca pañcagavyañca pūrvavat lājacandanasiddhārthabhasmadūrvākṣataṃ kuśān
พึงบูชาและแสวงหามนตระสิทธิ พร้อมทั้งจัดเตรียมปัญจคัวยะดังเดิม และเตรียมข้าวคั่ว (ลาชะ) จันทน์ เมล็ดมัสตาร์ดสีขาว เถ้าศักดิ์สิทธิ์ หญ้าทูรวา ข้าวอักษตะ และหญ้ากุศะ
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Lists further preliminaries for mantra-siddhi: worship, preparation of pañcagavya, and readiness of specific samagri (laja, chandana, siddharthaka, bhasma, durva, akshata, kusha).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Mantra-siddhi preliminaries: pañcagavya and supporting samagri","lookup_keywords":["mantra-siddhi","pañcagavya","lāja","candana","bhasma"],"quick_summary":"For worship aimed at mantra accomplishment, prepare pañcagavya and keep ready popped rice, sandalwood, mustard, sacred ash, dūrvā, akṣata, and kuśa for offerings and purification."}
Dosha: Pitta
Concept: Mantra-siddhi depends on disciplined preliminaries—śuddhi, proper offerings, and continuity with ‘pūrvavat’ (established procedure).
Application: For sustained japa, standardize your samagri and purification steps; keep cooling and cleansing substances (candana, bhasma, clean water) to support steadiness and sattva.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Mantra-siddhi and ritual preliminaries)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A prepared pañcagavya vessel beside offerings: popped rice, sandal paste, mustard, sacred ash, dūrvā, akṣata, and kuśa; the practitioner begins worship aimed at mantra-siddhi.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: ritual still-life with distinct textures—white ash, green dūrvā, golden akṣata, sandal paste—arranged before a seated practitioner, lamp-lit temple interior, bold stylization.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: lavish offering arrangement with gold-leaf on vessels, thick sandal paste depiction, bright popped rice heap, sacred ash container, ornate background and auspicious symmetry.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clean instructional composition showing each item clearly around the pañcagavya pot, practitioner in calm posture for japa/puja, fine linework and soft colors.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: detailed tabletop of offerings with meticulous rendering of grains and powders, practitioner seated on carpet, delicate architectural niche behind, refined palette."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: मन्त्रशिद्धिञ्च → मन्त्र-सिद्धिम् च; पञ्चगव्यञ्च → पञ्च-गव्यम् च; लाजचन्दनसिद्धार्थभस्मदूर्वाक्षतं → लाज-चन्दन-सिद्धार्थ-भस्म-दूर्वा-अक्षतम्
Related Themes: Agni Purana ch. 81 on bhuta-shuddhi materials (81.15); Agni Purana on special arghya and tilaka (81.16); Agni Purana earlier mention of pañcagavya ‘pūrvavat’ within the same puja-vidhi sequence
FAQs
It specifies the standard ritual requisites for pūjā aimed at mantra-siddhi, including pañcagavya purification and key offering substances (lāja, candana, siddhārtha, bhasma, dūrvā, akṣata, kuśa).
By cataloging precise, practical ritual materials and their use in mantra practice, it preserves procedural knowledge alongside theology—typical of the Agni Purana’s wide-ranging, handbook-like coverage of rites and disciplines.
Using purified substances and auspicious offerings supports ritual śuddhi (purity) and steadies the rite, traditionally held to remove obstacles and help the mantra bear fruit (siddhi) with merit (puṇya).