Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 1
Pratiṣṭhā-Kalaśa-Śodhana-Ukti (Instruction on Purifying the Consecration Pitcher) — Chapter 85
निवृत्तिकलाशोधनं नाम चतुरशीतितमो ऽध्यायः शिवात्मनेति ख, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः दग्धनिःशेषपाशस्य इति ख, ङ, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः अथ पञ्चाशीतितमो ऽध्यायः प्रतिष्ठाकलाशोधनोक्तिः ईश्वर उवाच तत्त्वयोरथ सन्धानं कुर्याच्छुद्धविशुद्धयोः ह्रस्वदीर्घप्रयोगेण नादनादान्तसङ्गिना
nivṛttikalāśodhanaṃ nāma caturaśītitamo 'dhyāyaḥ śivātmaneti kha, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ dagdhaniḥśeṣapāśasya iti kha, ṅa, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ atha pañcāśītitamo 'dhyāyaḥ pratiṣṭhākalāśodhanoktiḥ īśvara uvāca tattvayoratha sandhānaṃ kuryācchuddhaviśuddhayoḥ hrasvadīrghaprayogeṇa nādanādāntasaṅginā
“จบอธิยายที่ ๘๔ ชื่อว่า ‘การชำระนิวฤตติ-กลา’.” (ในฉบับที่ทำเครื่องหมายมีบทอ่านต่าง: ‘แด่ศิวาตมัน’ / ‘ผู้มีบ่วงถูกเผามอดสิ้นไม่เหลือ’). บัดนี้เริ่มอธิยายที่ ๘๕: “คำสอนว่าด้วยการชำระหม้อน้ำพิธีสถาปนา (pratiṣṭhā-kalaśa).” พระอิศวรตรัสว่า: “ต่อจากนั้นพึงทำการเชื่อมประสาน (sandhāna) ระหว่างหลักสองประการ คือความบริสุทธิ์และความไม่บริสุทธิ์ โดยใช้จังหวะสั้น-ยาว พร้อมด้วย ‘นาทะ’ ‘อนาทะ’ และที่สุดแห่งนาทะ (นาทานต์).”
Īśvara (Shiva) in a ritual-tantric instruction frame within Agni Purana
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Pratiṣṭhā-kalaśa śodhana and tattva-sandhāna: use regulated phonetic measures (hrasva/dīrgha) and nāda-krama (sound, non-sound, sound’s end) to ritually ‘join’ śuddha and aśuddha principles, preparing the consecration vessel and the practitioner’s mantra-body.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Pratiṣṭhā-kalaśa-śodhana and Śuddha–Aśuddha Sandhāna via Nāda","lookup_keywords":["pratiṣṭhā","kalaśa-śodhana","sandhāna","nāda-anāda","hrasva-dīrgha"],"quick_summary":"The consecration pot is purified through a tantric joining of pure/impure principles, executed by mantra-phonetics (short/long) and a nāda-sequence (sound, silence, and sound’s termination)."}
Concept: Nāda as a bridge between levels of reality; ritual efficacy depends on correct sound-measure and controlled transition from sound to silence (anāda) to sound’s limit (antā).
Application: In mantra-nyāsa and kalaśa-śodhana, maintain exact vowel-length and sonic progression; treat phonetics as a ritual instrument, not mere recitation.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Tantra (Pratiṣṭhā, Kalaśa-śodhana, Mantra-nyāsa)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Īśvara instructs a practitioner: a consecration kalaśa on a ritual altar, with the teacher indicating phonetic measures and a nāda-to-silence progression as part of purification and sandhāna.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Śiva/Īśvara seated as guru, hand in teaching gesture, a kalaśa with mango leaves and coconut, yantra-like sound waves around, muted temple interior, traditional palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, ornate Śiva as teacher with gold halo, richly decorated kalaśa on pedestal, gold detailing on ritual implements, symmetrical composition, devotional yet instructional","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, diagrammatic clarity: kalaśa on altar, text-like labels ‘hrasva’, ‘dīrgha’, ‘nāda’, ‘anāda’, ‘antā’, teacher pointing, clean pastel background","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly teacher-disciple scene, fine textiles, a ritual table with kalaśa and manuscripts, delicate depiction of sound as flowing ribbons, architectural arches"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चतुरशीतितमो ऽध्यायः = चतुरशीतितमः + अध्यायः; पञ्चाशीतितमो ऽध्यायः = पञ्चाशीतितमः + अध्यायः; कुर्याच्छुद्धविशुद्धयोः = कुर्यात् + शुद्धविशुद्धयोः (त् + श् → च्छ्). Editorial notes (kha/ṅa etc.) omitted from pada analysis as non-verse apparatus.
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa: Nivṛtti-kalā śodhana (end of ch. 84); Agni Purāṇa: Pratiṣṭhā/nyāsa/kalaśa procedures in adjacent chapters
FAQs
It introduces pratiṣṭhā-kalaśa-śodhana and instructs a mantric ‘sandhāna’—a ritual linking of ‘pure’ and ‘impure’ principles using phonetic measures (short/long) and the mantric doctrine of nāda (sound), anāda (silence), and sound’s termination.
Alongside narrative and dharma, the Agni Purana preserves highly technical temple-ritual technology—consecration, purification, and mantra-phonetics—showing its scope as a compendium that includes Śaiva-tantric liturgical science.
Purifying the consecration vessel and correctly joining tattvas through mantra is presented as a means to remove ritual impurity and align the rite with Śiva-principle, supporting effective installation and the devotee’s purification through disciplined sound (nāda) and restraint (anāda).