Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 67
Chapter 81 — समयदीक्षाविधानम्
Procedure for Samaya Initiation
प्रणवेन पिधायास्यां तद्देहलेपनं हृदा सुशीतलो भवत्येवम् प्राप्य शीताभिघारणं
praṇavena pidhāyāsyāṃ taddehalepanaṃ hṛdā suśītalo bhavatyevam prāpya śītābhighāraṇaṃ
เมื่อปิดปากด้วยปรณวะ (โอม) แล้วทาเลปนั้นลงบนกายด้วยความตั้งมั่นจากดวงใจ ย่อมเกิดความเย็นสงบอย่างยิ่ง; ดังนี้จึงได้วิธีศีตาภิฆารณะ (śītābhighāraṇa) คือการรดประพรมให้เย็นลง۔
Lord Agni (teaching in Agni Purana’s encyclopedic discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Using praṇava as a sealing act and applying a cooling paste/lepana with focused intent to induce bodily cooling; framed as a cooling affusion procedure (śītābhighāraṇa).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Praṇava-pidhāna with deha-lepana for śītābhighāraṇa (cooling therapy)","lookup_keywords":["praṇava","pidhāna","deha-lepana","śīta","abhighāraṇa"],"quick_summary":"Seal with Oṁ, apply the paste to the body with concentrated heart-intent, and achieve thorough cooling—this constitutes the method of cooling affusion/aspersion."}
Dosha: Pitta
Concept: Mantra–cikitsā synergy: intention (hṛdā) and praṇava as a regulator supporting bodily therapy.
Application: Pair external treatment (lepana/affusion) with a simple centering mantra to stabilize mind-body response, especially in heat-driven states.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda / Chikitsa (Therapeutic and remedial procedures)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A practitioner seals with Oṁ, then applies a cooling paste over the body; the recipient visibly relaxes as cooling affusion is implied.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, serene healing scene: vaidya chanting Oṁ, hand applying pale cooling paste on patient’s torso, stylized cool-blue aura, minimal background with ritual vessel for affusion.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, healer and seated patient, gold leaf detailing on vessels and borders, soft white paste application, subtle sacred syllable ‘Oṁ’ in a cartouche above, calm devotional ambience.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional medical illustration: steps shown—(1) praṇava sealing, (2) paste application, (3) cooling affusion indication; fine lines, gentle colors, clear gestures.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate clinic scene with detailed textiles, healer applying paste with focused expression, small calligraphic ‘Oṁ’, cool-toned palette suggesting relief from heat."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Malkauns","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पिधायास्यां = पिधाय + आस्याम्; तद्देहलेपनम् = तत् + देहलेपनम्; भवत्येवम् = भवति + एवम्; शीताभिघारणम् = शीत + अभिघारणम्
Related Themes: Agni Purana 81 (śītābhighāraṇa and lepana context; preceding dravya-yoga measures)
FAQs
It teaches a mantra-assisted cooling therapy: closing the mouth while employing the Praṇava (Oṁ) and applying a body-paste with focused inner intent, culminating in śītābhighāraṇa (cooling affusion/sprinkling) for producing a strong cooling effect.
It exemplifies how the Agni Purana blends practical therapeutics (cooling applications and affusions) with mantra-prayoga, showing the text’s coverage of medicine alongside ritual technique—one of its hallmark encyclopedic features.
By integrating the Praṇava with treatment, the act becomes both remedial and purificatory—framing healing as a disciplined, sattvic practice where bodily relief is paired with mental steadiness and sacred recollection.