Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 26
Chapter 81 — समयदीक्षाविधानम्
Procedure for Samaya Initiation
ज्ञानखड्गकरः स्थित्वा नैरृत्याभिमुखो नरः सार्घ्याम्बुपञ्चगव्याभ्यां प्रोक्षयेद्यागमण्डपं
jñānakhaḍgakaraḥ sthitvā nairṛtyābhimukho naraḥ sārghyāmbupañcagavyābhyāṃ prokṣayedyāgamaṇḍapaṃ
ผู้ประกอบพิธีถือ “ดาบแห่งญาณ” ยืนหันสู่ทิศไนฤติ (ตะวันตกเฉียงใต้) แล้วพึงประพรมมณฑปยัญด้วยน้ำอรฺฆยะและปัญจคัวยะเพื่อการชำระให้ศักดิ์สิทธิ์।
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha, as the standard Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Ritual purification of the yajña-maṇḍapa by directional facing, symbolic jñāna-khaḍga, and prokṣaṇa using arghya-water and pañcagavya.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Yajña-maṇḍapa Prokṣaṇa with Arghya and Pañcagavya (Facing Nairṛti)","lookup_keywords":["prokṣaṇa","pañcagavya","arghya","nairṛti","jñāna-khaḍga"],"quick_summary":"Consecrate the sacrificial pavilion by sprinkling arghya-water and pañcagavya while facing the south-west, holding the ‘sword of knowledge’ as a protective-purificatory symbol."}
Concept: Śuddhi as prerequisite for yajña: outer space is purified while inner ignorance is ‘cut’ by jñāna (jñāna-khaḍga).
Application: Before homa, perform systematic prokṣaṇa of the maṇḍapa; maintain the inner attitude that knowledge is the true purifier and protector against inauspiciousness (nairṛti-direction symbolism).
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Yajña-śuddhi and Maṇḍapa-saṃskāra)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A priest in a yajña pavilion faces the south-west, holding a symbolic sword, sprinkling consecrated water and pañcagavya around the maṇḍapa boundary.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, priest with stylized sword and water vessel, sprinkling around a square maṇḍapa, directional marker for nairṛti, bold outlines, ritual implements clearly shown.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, richly decorated maṇḍapa with gold accents, priest holding gleaming sword, arghya vessel and sprinkling gesture, sacred geometry on floor, warm lamp-lit tones.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional scene: clear depiction of prokṣaṇa arc, labeled vessels (arghya, pañcagavya), neat pavilion lines, soft shading and precise detail.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed pavilion architecture, officiant sprinkling liquid with a spoon/brush, attendants holding vessels, subtle directional cues, intricate textile patterns."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ज्ञानखड्गकरः = ज्ञान + खड्ग + करः; नैरृत्याभिमुखः = नैरृत्य + अभिमुखः; सार्घ्याम्बुपञ्चगव्याभ्यां = स + अर्घ्य + अम्बु + पञ्चगव्याभ्याम्; प्रोक्षयेद्यागमण्डपं = प्रोक्षयेत् + यागमण्डपम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 81 (yajña-śuddhi, maṇḍapa-saṃskāra)
FAQs
It prescribes maṇḍapa-śuddhi (ritual purification) by prokṣaṇa—sprinkling the yāga-maṇḍapa with arghya-water and pañcagavya while observing a specific directional orientation (facing nairṛti).
It functions as a practical ritual manual: it combines directional ritual science (dik-niyama), consecratory technique (prokṣaṇa), and purificatory substances (pañcagavya/arghya), demonstrating the Agni Purāṇa’s coverage of applied liturgy alongside its many other disciplines.
Sprinkling with pañcagavya and arghya-water is a śuddhi act meant to remove ritual impurity and obstructive influences, preparing the space so the sacrifice proceeds with purity and yields its intended religious merit (puṇya).