Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 20
Chapter 24 — कुण्डनिर्माणादिविधिः
Procedure for Constructing the Fire-pit and Related Rites
एवमुल्लिख्य चाभ्युक्ष्य प्रणवेन तु मन्त्रवित् विष्टरं कल्पयेत्तेन तस्मिन् शक्तिन्तु वैष्णवीं
evamullikhya cābhyukṣya praṇavena tu mantravit viṣṭaraṃ kalpayettena tasmin śaktintu vaiṣṇavīṃ
如是画成其式，并以净水洒净之后，通晓真言者当以“普罗那瓦”（Praṇava，唵Oṁ）安置viṣṭara——仪式之座/坛基；并于其上安立Vaiṣṇavī Śakti，即毗湿奴之神圣威力。
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Consecration sequence for a drawn mandala/altar: sprinkling (abhyukṣaṇa), Praṇava-japa, preparing the ritual seat (viṣṭara), and installing Vaiṣṇavī Śakti for worship.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Praṇava-prayoga: Abhyukṣaṇa, Viṣṭara-kalpanā, and Vaiṣṇavī-śakti-sthāpana","lookup_keywords":["praṇava","abhyukṣaṇa","viṣṭara","vaiṣṇavī-śakti","sthāpana"],"quick_summary":"After drawing the design, sprinkle it for purification, then using Oṁ establish the ritual seat and install the Vaiṣṇavī power as the operative presence for the rite."}
Concept: Śakti-sthāpana through mantra: the seat becomes a charged locus when purified and invoked by Praṇava.
Application: In pūjā/homa preliminaries, treat the altar as ritually alive—purify, invoke, then install the intended divine power before offerings.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Vaishnava altar/mandala preparation and mantra-prayoga)
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A completed mandala on the ground is sprinkled with water; a priest seated nearby chants Oṁ while arranging a viṣṭara (ritual seat) and invoking/placing Vaiṣṇavī Śakti upon it.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, priest sprinkling sanctified water over a geometric mandala, conch and water vessel, viṣṭara seat shown, subtle depiction of Vaiṣṇavī aura, rich reds and ochres","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, priest with gold-embellished haloed symbols of Viṣṇu, ornate viṣṭara with gold leaf, water-sprinkling gesture frozen, sacred geometry on floor","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, refined ritual scene: clear mandala lines, priest chanting praṇava, labeled viṣṭara elements, delicate ornamentation and calm palette","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly atelier-like ritual chamber, priest sprinkling water on diagram, fine textiles, small inscription of Oṁ, luminous but restrained divine presence"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: evamullikhya → evam ullikhya; cābhyukṣya → ca abhyukṣya; kalpayettena → kalpayet tena; śaktintu → śaktim tu.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 24 (pūjā-vidhi sequence around mandala/viṣṭara); Agni Purana mantra and pūjā procedural chapters (general)
FAQs
It teaches a precise pūjā-sequence: draw the prescribed markings, purify by sprinkling (abhyukṣaṇa), prepare the ritual seat (viṣṭara), and invoke/install Vaiṣṇavī Śakti using the Praṇava (Oṁ) as the empowering mantra.
It exemplifies the Agni Purana’s manual-like coverage of applied ritual technology—practical steps of altar preparation, mantra-application, and śakti-nyāsa—alongside its broader teachings on dharma, polity, medicine, and arts.
The drawing and sprinkling signify purification and consecration; empowering the seat with Oṁ and installing Vaiṣṇavī Śakti establishes the deity’s presence, making the worship ritually valid and spiritually efficacious (śuddhi and siddhi of the rite).