Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 37
Chapter 303: Mantras for Worship Beginning with the Five-syllable (Pañcākṣara) — पञ्चाक्षरादिपूजामन्त्राः
शिवाग्निं जनयित्वेष्ट्वा पुनः शिष्येण चार्चयेत् ध्यानेनात्मनिभं शिष्यं संहृत्य प्रलयः क्रमात्
śivāgniṃ janayitveṣṭvā punaḥ śiṣyeṇa cārcayet dhyānenātmanibhaṃ śiṣyaṃ saṃhṛtya pralayaḥ kramāt
Matapos likhain ang Apoy ni Śiva (Śivāgni) at sambahin ito, muli niyang ipasamba ito sa alagad. Pagkatapos, sa pamamagitan ng pagninilay (dhyāna), bawiin at isaloob ang alagad—gawing kaisa ng sarili—at saka susunod, ayon sa pagkakasunod, ang pagkalusaw (pralaya).
Lord Agni (teaching Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Perform Shaiva-agni generation and worship, then have the disciple worship; conclude with meditative reabsorption (laya) of the disciple into the guru/Atman, proceeding through a pralaya-like dissolution sequence.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Śivāgni Generation, Disciple Worship, and Laya (Pralaya-Krama)","lookup_keywords":["shivagni","diksha","laya","pralaya-krama","atmaikya"],"quick_summary":"After generating and worshipping the Śiva-fire, the disciple repeats worship; then the guru performs meditative absorption, making the disciple identical with the Self and dissolving the constructed cosmos in ordered sequence."}
Concept: Atmaikya (identity with the Self) is enacted ritually: creation of sacred fire, worship, then dissolution of differentiated identity through laya/pralaya-krama.
Application: Use guided meditation after ritual worship to internalize the rite—progressively withdraw attention from outer forms into non-dual identity.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Shaiva–Agni ritual; Tantric initiation and dissolution practice)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A blazing ritual fire visualized as Śiva; guru worships, then disciple offers; finally the scene shifts to a meditative absorption where disciple’s form dissolves into the guru’s luminous self.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Śiva-fire as a radiant lingam-like flame, guru and disciple in worship posture, then a second panel-like depiction of subtle-body dissolution into a central light, strong reds and blacks.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central golden flame as Śiva, ornate puja vessels, disciple offering, background haloed; subtle overlay of merging silhouettes to suggest atmaikya.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, sequential instructional composition: (1) generate Śivāgni, (2) worship by guru and disciple, (3) meditation with dissolving outlines, fine detailing and calm palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate ritual chamber with fire altar, guru-disciple interaction, then ethereal wash showing the disciple fading into a luminous figure, delicate shading and architectural detail."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: जनयित्वेष्ट्वा = जनयित्वा + इष्ट्वा (आ + इ → ए). ध्यानेनात्मनिभं = ध्यानेन + आत्मनिभम् (अ + आ → आ).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 303 (bhuta-shuddhi/tattva-laya context); Agni Purana Shaiva/Tantric diksha passages on laya and pralaya-krama
FAQs
It gives a precise puja-sequence: ritually generate the Śiva-identified sacred fire (śivāgni), perform worship/offerings, have the disciple perform worship again, and then complete the rite through meditative withdrawal (saṃhāra) culminating in a stepwise pralaya-krama.
Alongside its many subjects, the Agni Purana preserves practical ritual technology: external fire-worship (arcana/iṣṭi) integrated with internal yogic completion (dhyāna and saṃhāra), showing how liturgy, initiation pedagogy (guru–śiṣya), and metaphysical cosmology (pralaya) are taught together.
The instruction frames worship as ending in non-dual reabsorption: the disciple is contemplated as identical with the guru/self (ātmanibha), and the rite concludes by dissolving all constructed forms in ordered withdrawal—aiming at purification, completion of the ritual cycle, and realization-oriented closure.