Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 38
Chapter 33 — पवित्रारोहणविधानं
The Procedure for Pavitrārohaṇa / Installing the Sacred Thread or Consecratory Amulet
पूर्वसिद्धाः परसिद्धाः केशरेषु च शक्तयः लक्ष्मीः सरस्वती प्रीतिः कीर्तिः शान्तिश् च कान्तिका
pūrvasiddhāḥ parasiddhāḥ keśareṣu ca śaktayaḥ lakṣmīḥ sarasvatī prītiḥ kīrtiḥ śāntiś ca kāntikā
کیشروں (پھول کے ریشوں) پر بھی شکتیوں کا نیاس کرے—پوروسِدّھا اور پرسِدّھا؛ یعنی لکشمی، سرسوتی، پریتی، کیرتی، شانتی اور کانتِکا۔
Lord Agni (in dialogue tradition, instructing sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","practical_application":"Lotus-maṇḍala śakti-nyāsa: assigning named śaktis to the lotus filaments (keśara) as part of āvaraṇa-pūjā, strengthening specific auspicious qualities (śrī, vidyā, prīti, kīrti, śānti, kānti).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Keśara-śakti nyāsa: Lakṣmī–Sarasvatī–Prīti–Kīrti–Śānti–Kāntikā (+ siddhi pairs)","lookup_keywords":["keśara","śakti-nyāsa","lakṣmī","sarasvatī","kīrti"],"quick_summary":"Place/meditate upon specific śaktis on the lotus filaments—Lakṣmī, Sarasvatī, Prīti, Kīrti, Śānti, Kāntikā—along with pūrva/para-siddhi, to complete the lotus āvaraṇa and invoke their corresponding boons."}
Concept: Qualities and attainments (siddhi) are ritualized as śaktis; by nyāsa on the lotus, the sādhaka integrates prosperity, knowledge, affection, fame, peace, and radiance.
Application: During pūjā, mentally assign each śakti to a filament/petal while offering flowers; use the names as a japa-list to cultivate the corresponding inner dispositions.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Devata-nyasa (Lotus-maṇḍala and śakti-nyāsa context)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A lotus mandala seen from above: filaments/petals each bearing a small goddess labeled Lakṣmī, Sarasvatī, Prīti, Kīrti, Śānti, Kāntikā; two additional siddhi-figures marking pūrva/para-siddhi.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural of a radiant lotus: each petal hosts a small śakti goddess, Lakṣmī and Sarasvatī emphasized with vīṇā and lotuses, earthy palette, thick contours, symmetrical mandala layout.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore mandala-lotus: embossed gold outlines on petals, jeweled centers, miniature śakti figures with gold halos, inscriptions of names, rich crimson background.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style schematic lotus: clean petal divisions, readable labels for each śakti, gentle pastel shading, suitable as a ritual instruction plate.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature top-view lotus garden motif transformed into a mandala: delicate female figures on petals with fine textiles, calligraphic labels, intricate border patterns."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shuddha Saveri","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: No major sandhi beyond standard visarga before ca: śāntiś ca = śāntiḥ + ca.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 33 (lotus-maṇḍala nyāsa sequence); Adjacent nyāsa lists in 33.39 (Puṣṭi/Tuṣṭi etc.)
FAQs
It gives a nyāsa-style placement rule: specific personified Śaktis (Lakṣmī, Sarasvatī, Prīti, Kīrti, Śānti, Kāntikā) are to be installed/visualized on the lotus filaments (keśara) within a padma-maṇḍala used in pūjā.
Beyond mythology, it catalogs ritual micro-structures (mandala parts like petals/filaments) and assigns abstract qualities as deities, preserving a practical manual of worship technology (pūjā-vidhi, nyāsa, devatā-vinyāsa).
Installing these Śaktis ritually is intended to invoke prosperity, learning, harmony, renown, peace, and inner radiance—purifying the practitioner’s intention and aligning worship with auspicious virtues (śubha-guṇas).