Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 22
Worship of Gaurī and Others (Gauryādi-pūjā) — Mantra, Maṇḍala, Mudrā, Homa, and Mṛtyuñjaya Kalaśa-Rite
अष्टम्याञ्च चतुर्दश्यां तृतीयायां विशेषतः मृत्युञ्चयार्चनं वक्ष्ये पूजयेत् कलसोदरे
aṣṭamyāñca caturdaśyāṃ tṛtīyāyāṃ viśeṣataḥ mṛtyuñcayārcanaṃ vakṣye pūjayet kalasodare
Vào ngày mồng tám (aṣṭamī), ngày mười bốn (caturdaśī), và đặc biệt ngày mồng ba (tṛtīyā), ta sẽ trình bày phép thờ Mṛtyuñjaya. Nên cử hành sự tôn kính ngay trong lòng bình nghi lễ đã được gia trì (kalaśa).
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Timing and method for Mṛtyuñjaya worship: perform on tithis (8th, 14th, especially 3rd) and conduct archana within/at the interior space of a consecrated kalaśa (kalasha-pūjā as locus).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Mṛtyuñjaya-archana on Aṣṭamī, Caturdaśī, and (especially) Tṛtīyā; kalaśa-antar-pūjā","lookup_keywords":["mṛtyuñjaya-arcana","aṣṭamī","caturdaśī","tṛtīyā","kalaśa-pūjā"],"quick_summary":"Schedule Mṛtyuñjaya worship on the 8th and 14th lunar days, with special emphasis on the 3rd; perform the veneration centered in a sanctified ritual pot, treating the kalaśa as the deity’s seat."}
Concept: Sacred time (tithi) and sacred support (kalaśa as ādhāra) structure protective worship aimed at overcoming fear of death.
Application: Choose the specified tithis, establish a properly consecrated kalaśa, and perform archana with the deity invoked into the vessel as the ritual center.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Mrityunjaya-archana and Kalasha-puja)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A consecrated kalaśa with mango leaves and coconut is placed on a mandala; the practitioner performs Mṛtyuñjaya archana directed to the deity invoked within the pot, on auspicious lunar days (8th/14th/3rd) indicated by a lunar calendar scroll.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, prominent decorated kalaśa on lotus mandala, Śaiva symbols (tripuṇḍra, bilva leaves), priest offering flowers and water toward the pot, soft lamp-lit sanctum ambiance, lunar tithi symbols in border motifs","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold leaf on the kalaśa and ornaments, bilva garlands, Śiva’s Mṛtyuñjaya presence suggested as a subtle aura behind the pot, rich reds and greens, ceremonial symmetry","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional clarity: kalaśa components labeled (jala, pañcapallava, nārikela), archana sequence shown, small calendar panel marking aṣṭamī/caturdaśī/tṛtīyā, fine linework","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, elegant ritual chamber with a central kalaśa on a patterned carpet, priest performing archana, a delicate lunar calendar folio beside, meticulous rendering of leaves, water, and vessels"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अष्टम्याञ्च → अष्टम्याम् च; मृत्युञ्चयार्चनं → मृत्युञ्जय-अर्चनम् (ज→ञ् sandhi in compound/orthography); कलसोदरे = कलस-उदरे (तत्पुरुष)
Related Themes: Agni Purana 325 (Śaiva pūjā-vidhi; kalasha-centered rites); Agni Purana sections on Śiva-mantras and protective worship
FAQs
It specifies auspicious tithis (Aṣṭamī, Caturdaśī, and especially Tṛtīyā) for performing Mṛtyuñjaya-arcana and indicates a kalasha-centered worship method (pūjā performed in/through the consecrated pot).
It exemplifies the Agni Purana’s practical ritual cataloging—linking calendrical timing (tithi discipline) with a concrete liturgical technology (kalaśa as a ritual locus), typical of its wide-ranging procedural manuals across many domains.
Mṛtyuñjaya worship is traditionally associated with protection, longevity, and overcoming fear of death; performing it on prescribed tithis and with proper kalasha-vidhi is presented as a way to enhance efficacy and merit through correct observance.