Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 40
Chapter 81 — समयदीक्षाविधानम्
Procedure for Samaya Initiation
प्रणवस्थं चतुर्बाहुं वायव्ये गणमर्चयेत् स्थण्डिले शिवमभ्यर्च्य सार्घ्यकुण्डं व्रजेन्नरः
praṇavasthaṃ caturbāhuṃ vāyavye gaṇamarcayet sthaṇḍile śivamabhyarcya sārghyakuṇḍaṃ vrajennaraḥ
ในทิศตะวันตกเฉียงเหนือ (วายัวยะ) พึงบูชาคณะเทพ (คณะ/คณะ) ผู้สถิตบนปรณวะ (โอม) และมีสี่กร. ครั้นบูชาพระศิวะบนสถัณฑิละแล้ว ผู้บูชาพึงไปยังสารถยะ-กุณฑะ (หลุมถวายอรฺฆยะ)
Lord Agni (narrating ritual procedure to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Directional placement and iconographic specification for worship of Gaṇa/Gaṇapati and Śiva within a structured puja sequence leading to arghya-kunda.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Vayavya-dik Gaṇa-puja and Sthaṇḍila-Śiva-arcana leading to Sārghya-kuṇḍa","lookup_keywords":["vayavya","gana","pranava","caturbhuja","sarghya-kunda"],"quick_summary":"Worship the four-armed Gaṇa established in Oṁ in the northwest; then worship Śiva on the ritual ground and proceed to the arghya-offering pit for the next rite."}
Concept: Ritual efficacy depends on correct dik (direction), devata-sthāpana (placement), and krama (sequence) from Gaṇa-arcana to Śiva-arcana.
Application: Design puja layout: place Gaṇa worship in NW, perform Śiva worship on sthaṇḍila, then transition to arghya-kunda stage.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Shaiva–Ganapatya ritual instructions)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: Directional (dik) context
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual mandala with the northwest quarter marked; a four-armed Gaṇa associated with Oṁ is worshipped there, then the worshipper turns to a prepared sthaṇḍila to worship Śiva and walks toward the arghya-offering pit.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, mandala floor with vāyavya corner highlighted, four-armed Gaṇa icon with Oṁ motif, priest offering flowers, nearby sthaṇḍila with Śiva-symbol, procession toward a small kuṇḍa, bold contours and temple palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Gaṇa with four arms and ornate jewelry, Oṁ emblem above, priest at NW side of a decorated ritual platform, gold-worked borders, Śiva worship indicated by liṅga on sthaṇḍila, arghya-kunda shown with shimmering gold accents","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, diagrammatic clarity: labeled NW corner, Gaṇa iconography (caturbhuja) and Oṁ, sthaṇḍila with Śiva-liṅga, path to sārghya-kuṇḍa, fine lines and instructional composition","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly pavilion adapted as ritual space, priest worshipping a small Gaṇa image in NW, then moving to a ground altar for Śiva, attendants holding arghya vessels near a pit, intricate textiles and architectural detail"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: gaṇamarcayet → gaṇam + arcayet; śivamabhyarcya → śivam + abhyarcya; sārghyakuṇḍaṃ → sa-arghya-kuṇḍam; vrajennaraḥ → vrajet + naraḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 81 (dik-krama in puja; gaṇapati/śaiva upāsanā steps)
FAQs
It teaches a step in Shaiva worship: perform directional (vāyavya) worship of a specific Gaṇa visualized as Om-established and four-armed, then worship Śiva on the prepared ritual ground (sthaṇḍila) and proceed to the arghya-offering pit (sārghya-kuṇḍa) for the next oblation.
By preserving precise liturgical sequencing—directional deity placement, iconographic markers (four arms, Praṇava-seat), and ritual infrastructure terms (sthaṇḍila, arghya-kuṇḍa)—it functions as a practical ritual manual alongside the Purana’s broader coverage of many disciplines.
The verse emphasizes orderly, mantra-grounded worship (Praṇava-centered visualization) and respectful offering (arghya), which are traditionally held to purify the worshipper, align the rite with cosmic directions, and secure the grace of Śiva and his Gaṇas.