Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 12
Chapter 83 — निर्वाणदीक्षाकथनम्
Description of the Nirvāṇa Initiation
न्यस्यास्त्रवारिणा शिष्यं प्रोक्ष्यास्त्रमन्त्रितेन च पुष्पेण हृदि सन्ताड्य शिष्यदेहे प्रविश्य च
nyasyāstravāriṇā śiṣyaṃ prokṣyāstramantritena ca puṣpeṇa hṛdi santāḍya śiṣyadehe praviśya ca
เมื่อทำนยาสะด้วย “น้ำอัสตรา” แล้ว จงประพรมศิษย์ด้วยน้ำที่ปลุกเสกด้วยอัสตรมันตระ จากนั้นใช้ดอกไม้แตะ/กระทบที่หัวใจศิษย์ และให้พลังมนตร์เข้าสู่กายของศิษย์
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha on ritual procedure)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Dīkṣā-krama: ritual protection and transmission—nyāsa with astravāri, prokṣaṇa with astra-mantrita water, and puṣpa-tāḍana to ‘seat’ mantra-śakti in the disciple.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Dīkṣā: Astravāri-nyāsa, Prokṣaṇa, and Puṣpa-tāḍana (flower-strike)","lookup_keywords":["dīkṣā","astravāri","prokṣaṇa","astra-mantra","puṣpa-tāḍana"],"quick_summary":"The verse outlines a standard initiation sequence: empower water with the Astra-mantra, perform nyāsa and sprinkling for purification/protection, then use a flower-touch/strike at the heart as the moment of mantra-entry."}
Weapon Type: Astra (mantric ‘weapon’ as protective force)
Concept: Mantra is transmitted through regulated acts (nyāsa, sprinkling, and heart-seating), where ‘astra’ functions as a purifier and guardian of the rite.
Application: In practice, treat the disciple’s body as a mantra-field: cleanse (prokṣaṇa), seal (astra), then establish inner receptivity at the heart before giving the core mantra.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Mantra-tantra (Diksha & Nyasa procedures)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A guru performs initiation: touching nyāsa points, sprinkling consecrated water over a seated disciple, then tapping the disciple’s heart with a flower to install mantra-śakti.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, temple interior, guru with kamaṇḍalu and flower, disciple seated in humility, droplets of consecrated water shown as white arcs, stylized mantra aura entering the chest.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, gold-highlighted ritual scene: guru holding a flower near the disciple’s heart, ornate vessels for astravāri, gold embossing for protective aura around the disciple.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear didactic layout: three steps depicted—nyāsa, sprinkling, flower-strike—fine lines, soft colors, labels near ritual implements (water pot, flower).","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate initiation in a garden pavilion, detailed textiles, guru sprinkling water with a flower, subtle luminous stream entering the disciple’s heart, refined brushwork."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: nyasyāstravāriṇā → न्यस्य + अस्त्र-वारिणा; prokṣyāstramantritena → प्रोक्ष्य + अस्त्र-मन्त्रितेन; śiṣyadehe → शिष्य-देहे.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 83.13-15 (prāṇāyāma-mantra cutting, nāḍī-thread implantation, avaguṇṭhana)
FAQs
It teaches a dikṣā-step: perform nyāsa using ‘astra-water’, sprinkle the disciple with water empowered by the Astra-mantra, then ritually touch/strike the heart with a flower to effect mantra-entry (śakti-praveśa) into the disciple.
Beyond mythic narration, it preserves precise, procedural liturgy—mantra-empowerment of water, protective Astra usage, and initiation mechanics—showing the Agni Purana as a compendium of practical ritual technology (pujā-vidhi and mantra-tantra).
The astra-mantra sprinkling purifies and protects, while the heart-touch with a consecrated flower symbolizes the sanctioned transmission of mantra-power, marking the disciple’s readiness and ritual eligibility for further practice.