Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 8
Chapter 81 — समयदीक्षाविधानम्
Procedure for Samaya Initiation
साधिकारानधिकारा यथा तदभिधीयते समयाचारसंयुक्ता सवीजा जायते नृणां
sādhikārānadhikārā yathā tadabhidhīyate samayācārasaṃyuktā savījā jāyate nṛṇāṃ
ดังที่คัมภีร์สอนไว้ มนุษย์ย่อมมีสิทธิหรือไม่มีสิทธิในพิธีกรรมตามฐานะของตน เมื่อประกอบพร้อมด้วยสมยาจาระ (จารีตประเพณีอันถูกต้อง) กรรมนั้นย่อมเป็น ‘สพีชะ’ คือมีเมล็ดและให้ผลแก่ชนทั้งหลาย.
Lord Agni (teaching to sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Determining who is eligible (adhikārin) for specific rites and how customary conduct (samayācāra) makes ritual practice effective and result-bearing.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Adhikāra and Samayācāra as the ‘Seed’ of Ritual Efficacy","lookup_keywords":["adhikāra","anadhikāra","samayācāra","sabīja","karma-phala"],"quick_summary":"Ritual entitlement varies by person and status; when joined with proper customary observance (samayācāra), the rite becomes ‘sabīja’—capable of producing results."}
Concept: Adhikāra (eligibility) and ācāra (customary discipline) are prerequisites for karma to become phala-prada (result-giving).
Application: Before undertaking vows, pūjā, homa, or vrata, confirm eligibility and follow the locally/lineage-prescribed ācāra to avoid ineffective practice.
Khanda Section: Samaya-Acāra & Varṇa-Āśrama Dharma (Social/Ritual Conduct)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A teacher explains ritual eligibility to different householders; a symbolic ‘seed’ motif shows rites becoming fruitful when joined with samayācāra.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, guru seated on a wooden āsana teaching varṇāśrama householders, palm-leaf manuscripts, symbolic sprouting seed near a yajña setup, earthy reds and greens, temple interior ambience","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central guru figure with halo, disciples in orderly rows, gold-leaf highlights on ritual vessels and a stylized sprouting seed emblem labeled ‘sabīja’, rich maroons and greens","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional tableau: guru pointing to a diagram showing ‘adhikāra/anadhikāra’ and ‘samayācāra → sabīja’, fine linework, muted palette, manuscript aesthetics","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly scholastic scene with a pandit explaining dharma to listeners, delicate architecture, a small vignette of a seed sprouting beside ritual implements, detailed textiles"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: साधिकारानधिकारा = स-अधिकार-अनधिकाराः (द्वन्द्व); तदभिधीयते = तत् + अभिधीयते; समयाचारसंयुक्ता = समय-आचार-संयुक्ता; सवीजा = स-वीजा.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 81 (samayācāra/adhikāra discussion); Agni Purana 82+ (dīkṣā and mantra-adhikāra continuation, where applicable)
FAQs
It teaches the dharma-technical principle of adhikāra (ritual eligibility): rites become effective (‘savījā’, fruitful) when performed by those properly qualified and aligned with samayācāra (accepted ritual/social conduct).
Beyond mythic narration, it codifies practical dharma: who is entitled to perform rites, and how correct customary practice conditions the success of religious actions—showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of social-ritual law alongside other sciences.
It implies that karmic outcomes depend not only on performing an act, but on proper qualification and right conduct; aligned practice becomes ‘seeded’ and yields lasting merit, while misaligned practice risks becoming ineffective or spiritually barren.