Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 23
अधिवासनं नाम निर्वाणदीक्षायाम्
Adhivāsana in the Nirvāṇa-dīkṣā
शम्भुर्विभुर्गणाध्यक्षस्त्र्यक्षस्त्रिदशवन्दितः संहारश् च विहारश् च लाभो लिप्सुर्विचक्षणः
śambhurvibhurgaṇādhyakṣastryakṣastridaśavanditaḥ saṃhāraś ca vihāraś ca lābho lipsurvicakṣaṇaḥ
พระองค์คือศัมภู ผู้เป็นเจ้าอันแผ่ซ่านทั่ว ผู้เป็นประธานแห่งคณะคณะคณะ (คณะคณา) ผู้มีสามเนตร และเป็นที่สักการะของเหล่าเทพ; พระองค์ทรงเป็นทั้งการทำลายและลีลาอันศักดิ์สิทธิ์ เป็นทั้งการบรรลุและผู้แสวงหาการบรรลุ และทรงมีปัญญาอันยิ่งยวด
Lord Agni (narrating the Agni Purana’s hymn/epithet sequence, traditionally to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Stotra","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Japa and contemplative recitation of Shiva’s epithets for bhakti, mental steadiness, and framing Shiva as both immanent and transcendent in daily worship.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Shiva-epithets: Śambhu as Vibhū, Gaṇādhyakṣa, Tryakṣa, Saṃhāra and Līlā","lookup_keywords":["Śambhu","Gaṇādhyakṣa","Tryakṣa","Saṃhāra","Līlā"],"quick_summary":"A compact name-list presenting Shiva as cosmic governor and inner discernment itself; useful as a stotra-pāṭha segment or as dhyāna cues during pūjā."}
Alamkara Type: Dvandva-yamaka/arthāntaranyāsa-like pairing (saṃhāra–vihāra; lābha–lipsu) and nāmāvalī-style enumeration
Concept: Non-dual framing of Shiva as both saṃhāra (dissolution) and līlā (sport), and as the inner witness with viveka (discernment).
Application: Use the paired epithets as contemplation points to dissolve rigid dualities (gain/seeking, destruction/play) during meditation and ethical decision-making.
Khanda Section: Ishvara-stotra / Shiva-nama (Devotional Hymn and Divine Epithets)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A serene three-eyed Shiva, surrounded by gaṇas and devas offering veneration; a subtle juxtaposition of dissolution (cosmic fire) and play (dance-like ease).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, Shiva with three eyes and crescent moon, gaṇas at his feet, devas in folded hands, muted earthy reds and greens, stylized flames of saṃhāra behind, calm śānta expression, traditional ornamentation","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central Shiva as Tryakṣa with rich jewelry and aureole, gold foil highlights, devas worshipping, symbolic saṃhāra fire and līlā motifs, ornate arch frame","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, refined linework, Shiva seated in meditative poise with third eye emphasized, gaṇas and devas arranged symmetrically, soft pastel palette, instructional caption-like clarity for epithets","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed courtly assembly of devas around Shiva, delicate rendering of eyes and textiles, subtle cosmic fire in background, balanced composition with calligraphic cartouche for names"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: शम्भुः+विभुः→शम्भुर्विभुः; गणाध्यक्षः+त्र्यक्षः→गणाध्यक्षस्त्र्यक्षः; त्रिदशवन्दितः (समास); संहारः+च→संहारश्च; विहारः+च→विहारश्च; लिप्सुः+विचक्षणः→लिप्सुर्विचक्षणः
Related Themes: Agni Purana 84 (Shiva-nāma/stotra sequence)
FAQs
It functions as stotra-vidhi in practice: a sequence of Shiva epithets used for devotional recitation (japa/stuti) to focus the mind on Shiva’s cosmic roles (lordship, dissolution, divine play) and thereby support worship and meditation.
Alongside topics like polity, medicine, and architecture, the Agni Purana preserves compact theological catalogues (name-lists and attributes) that encode cosmology and devotion—showing its breadth from practical sciences to liturgy and metaphysics.
Reciting and contemplating these names cultivates bhakti and viveka (discernment), aligning the devotee with Shiva as both the power of dissolution and the freedom of divine play—traditionally held to purify faults and generate religious merit.