Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 4
अधिवासनं नाम निर्वाणदीक्षायाम्
Adhivāsana in the Nirvāṇa-dīkṣā
ततः संशोध्य चात्मानं शिवहस्तं तथात्मनि विन्यस्य कुम्भगं प्रार्च्य इन्द्रादीनामनुक्रमात्
tataḥ saṃśodhya cātmānaṃ śivahastaṃ tathātmani vinyasya kumbhagaṃ prārcya indrādīnāmanukramāt
ต่อจากนั้นพึงชำระตนให้บริสุทธิ์ แล้วทำนยาสะ ‘ศิวหัตถะ’ ลงบนตน; ครั้นบูชากุมภะ/กะลศะโดยชอบแล้ว พึงบูชาอินทร์และเทพทั้งหลายตามลำดับ।
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Āgamic/Śaiva pūjā sequence: self-purification, nyāsa (Śiva-hasta), kalaśa worship, then devatā-krama worship beginning with Indra; used in consecrations and daily/occasional pūjā.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Śiva-hasta nyāsa and kalaśa worship with devatā-krama (Indraādi)","lookup_keywords":["śiva-hasta","nyāsa","kumbha","kalaśa-pūjā","indraādi"],"quick_summary":"After self-purification, perform Śiva-hasta nyāsa on the body, worship the ritual kalaśa, then worship Indra and other deities in the prescribed sequence."}
Concept: Devatā-āveśa is stabilized through śuddhi and nyāsa; the kalaśa becomes the locus for ordered cosmic invocation (indraādi-krama).
Application: In Śaiva pūjā, prioritize internal purification and nyāsa before external offerings; follow devatā-krama to avoid ritual omissions.
Khanda Section: Pūjā-vidhi (Śaiva/Āgamic ritual procedure; kalaśa-kumbha worship and nyāsa)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A Śaiva officiant purifies himself, performs Śiva-hasta nyāsa on his body, worships a decorated kalaśa, then offers respects to Indra and the attendant deities in sequence.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, priest before a flower-garlanded kalaśa with mango leaves and coconut, hands in nyāsa gesture over chest, subtle depiction of Indra and dikpālas in registers, warm earthy palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, central gleaming kalaśa with gold embossing, Śiva’s symbolic hand blessing motif, Indra with vajra shown as small icon, heavy gold work on vessels and ornaments","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear instructional depiction of nyāsa placement points on the body, kalaśa on a pedestal, sequential small panels for Indraādi worship, fine linework and soft colors","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined ritual interior with patterned carpets, ornate kalaśa, priest performing nyāsa, small cloud-borne Indra figure receiving worship, intricate borders"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चात्मानम् = च आत्मानम्; तथात्मनि = तथा आत्मनि; इन्द्रादीनामनुक्रमात् = इन्द्रादीनाम् अनुक्रमात्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: sections on nyāsa, mudrā, kalaśa-saṃskāra, and devatā-krama within Pūjā-vidhi
FAQs
It teaches a Śaiva pūjā sequence: self-purification (saṃśodhana), performing a Śiva-associated hand-imposition/gesture (śiva-hasta) as nyāsa on the body, worship of the sanctified kumbha (kalaśa), and then worship of Indra and other deities in prescribed order.
By preserving precise, practice-oriented ritual technology—purificatory acts, nyāsa, kalaśa worship, and deity sequencing—this chapter exemplifies the Agni Purana’s coverage of Āgamic/ritual manuals alongside its many other knowledge domains.
Purification and nyāsa sacralize the practitioner’s body as fit for worship, while ordered deity-worship (beginning with Indra and others) aligns the rite with cosmic hierarchy, supporting ritual correctness (vidhi) and the accrual of merit through properly performed pūjā.