Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 3
Vidyā-viśodhana-vidhāna
Procedure for Purifying Mantra-Vidyā
रलवाः शषसाः वर्णाः षड् विद्यायां प्रकीर्तिताः पदानि प्रणवादीनि एकविंशतिसङ्ख्यया
ralavāḥ śaṣasāḥ varṇāḥ ṣaḍ vidyāyāṃ prakīrtitāḥ padāni praṇavādīni ekaviṃśatisaṅkhyayā
ในระบบศัฏวิทยา ได้ประกาศอักษรที่ขึ้นต้นด้วย ร ล ว และหมู่อักษร ศ ษ ส; และบรรดาบทศักดิ์สิทธิ์ที่เริ่มด้วยปรณวะ (โอม) ได้ระบุว่า มีจำนวนยี่สิบเอ็ด
Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purana narrator) speaking to Vasiṣṭha
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vyakarana","secondary_vidya":"Alamkara","practical_application":"Phonetic/letter-group enumeration and sacred-word counting used for mantra composition, recitation accuracy, and śāstric classification of learning units.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Varṇa-groups (ra-la-va; śa-ṣa-sa) and 21 Praṇavādi Padāni","lookup_keywords":["varṇa","ra la va","śa ṣa sa","praṇava","ekaviṃśati"],"quick_summary":"The verse classifies specific consonant groups and states a count of twenty-one sacred terms beginning with Oṃ, supporting systematic phonetic/mantric organization within a sixfold learning scheme."}
Concept: Śabda as a disciplined system: correct classification and enumeration of sounds/words is prerequisite to mantra and learned discourse
Application: For reciters and ritualists: maintain exact phoneme groups and fixed counts to prevent mantra corruption and to preserve textual integrity.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Varna–Pada–Pranava enumeration; phonetics/grammar-oriented instruction)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A scholastic scene: a teacher points to a phonetic chart showing ra-la-va and śa-ṣa-sa groups; beside it a list of 21 praṇavādi sacred terms beginning with Oṃ on a manuscript board.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, guru and students with palm-leaf manuscripts, phonetic chart stylized as a grid, ‘oṃ’ prominently at top, earthy tones and temple-school ambience","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, ornate manuscript stand with gold accents, ‘Oṃ’ in gold, phonetic groups displayed like medallions, scholarly devotional mood","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, highly legible instructional chart: columns for ra-la-va and śa-ṣa-sa, and a numbered list 1–21 starting with praṇava, fine linework and soft palette","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, madrasa-like manuscript illustration, calligraphic Sanskrit on folio, teacher with pointer, students seated, detailed borders and writing implements"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"didactic","suggested_raga":"Saraswati","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ṣaḍ vidyāyām = ṣaṭ vidyāyām (final ḍ before v- in saṃhitā); praṇavādīni = praṇava-ādīni; ekaviṃśatisaṅkhyayā = ekaviṃśati-saṅkhyayā.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 86 (Vidyā-śodhana; mantra/phoneme organization context)
FAQs
It gives a technical enumeration used in śikṣā/grammar and mantra-study: specific varṇa-groups (ra–la–va and śa–ṣa–sa) and a counted set of sacred padāni beginning with the praṇava (Oṃ), totaling twenty-one.
Alongside rituals and theology, the Agni Purana also preserves schematic lists from linguistic and mantra traditions—showing it functions as a compendium that includes phonetic/grammatical catalogues and standardized sacred vocabularies.
By systematizing praṇava-led sacred terms and their phonemic bases, it supports correct recitation (śuddha-ucchāraṇa), which is traditionally held to preserve mantra efficacy and thereby enhance ritual merit (puṇya).