Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 34
Chapter 81 — समयदीक्षाविधानम्
Procedure for Samaya Initiation
ततः स्थिरासने कुम्भे साङ्गं सम्पूज्य शङ्करं विन्यस्य शोध्यमध्वानं वर्धन्यामस्त्रमर्चयेत्
tataḥ sthirāsane kumbhe sāṅgaṃ sampūjya śaṅkaraṃ vinyasya śodhyamadhvānaṃ vardhanyāmastramarcayet
ต่อจากนั้น ณ กุมภะที่ตั้งบนอาสนะมั่นคง เมื่อบูชาพระศังกระโดยครบถ้วนพร้อมส่วนประกอบพิธี (สางคะ) แล้ว ทำนยาสะแก่เส้นทางที่จะชำระให้บริสุทธิ์ (โศธยม อธวานัม) และพึงบูชามนตร์อาวุธ ‘วรรธนี’ ณ ที่นั้น.
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Kalasha-āvaraṇa-pūjā of Śaṅkara ‘sāṅga’ (with limbs/attendants), followed by adhvā-śodhana nyāsa and worship of the Vardhanī-astra for purification and protection of the ritual pathway.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Kumbha-sthita Śaṅkara-sāṅga-pūjā with Adhvā-śodhana and Vardhanī-astra arcana","lookup_keywords":["kumbha-pūjā","sāṅga-śaṅkara","adhvā-śodhana","nyāsa","vardhanī-astra"],"quick_summary":"Worship Śaṅkara installed in the kumbha with his ‘aṅgas’, perform nyāsa for purifying the intended adhvā (ritual path/sequence), then propitiate the Vardhanī-astra to intensify protection and efficacy."}
Weapon Type: Astra (Vardhanī / protective weapon-mantra)
Concept: Purification (śodhana) is not only physical but also ‘adhvā’-level—ordering and sanctifying the ritual sequence/field through nyāsa and deity-installation.
Application: In Śaiva pūjā, treat the kumbha as a living seat of the deity; perform systematic nyāsa to align body, mantra, and ritual space before invoking protective astras.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Shaiva-Tantric purification and kalasha-kumbha ritual procedures)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A steady ritual seat holds a kumbha as Śaṅkara is worshipped within it ‘with limbs’; the priest performs nyāsa gestures along an imagined ‘pathway’ and then offers worship to a protective astra called Vardhanī.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: kumbha on a lotus pedestal, Śaṅkara’s presence indicated by liṅga/third-eye emblem above the pot, priest doing nyāsa mudrās, a stylized ‘adhvā’ path as a band of sacred geometry, subdued reds/ochres.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: richly ornamented kalasha with gold leaf, Śaṅkara icon-emblem above, priest offering flowers and performing nyāsa, Vardhanī-astra symbol (radiant weapon glyph) rendered with gold highlights.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: diagrammatic yet devotional—kumbha on āsana, labels for sāṅga-pūjā and adhvā-śodhana, priest’s hands in nyāsa positions, clean composition for instructional clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: indoor shrine scene with a ritualist before a pot-altar, attendants holding pūjā items, delicate depiction of hand-gestures (nyāsa), a luminous weapon-glyph hovering near the kumbha."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: स्थिरासने = स्थिर + आसने; साङ्गं = स + अङ्गम्; शोध्यमध्वानं = शोध्यम् + अध्वानम्; वर्धन्यामस्त्रमर्चयेत् = वर्धन्याम् + अस्त्रम् + अर्चयेत्
Related Themes: Agni Purana 81.33-37 (kalasha, astra, nyāsa sequence)
FAQs
It teaches a precise kumbha-based Śiva worship sequence: establish Śaṅkara in the kalasha, perform sāṅga-pūjā, execute nyāsa for the adhvan (ritual pathway) that requires purification, and then invoke/worship the protective ‘Vardhanī’ astra-mantra.
It preserves specialized ritual technology—kalasha installation, nyāsa, adhvan-śodhana, and astra-mantra usage—showing the Purāṇa’s coverage beyond narrative into practical tantra-informed liturgy and procedural worship manuals.
By purifying the designated adhvan through nyāsa and safeguarding the rite with an astra-mantra, the practitioner removes ritual impediments (doṣa/vighna), stabilizes the sanctity of worship, and aligns the act with merit-producing, protective Śaiva observance.