Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 66
Dīkṣāvidhi-kathana
Explanation of the Rite of Initiation
लिखितं दैवमिति ख, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः पूजां कृत्वा विसर्जयेदिति घ, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः विमलादीन् विसर्जयेदिति ङ, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः पूर्णाहुत्या तु सन्नयेदिति ख, घ, चिह्नितपुस्तकद्वयपाठः मौचयेदधिकारे वा नियुञ्ज्याद्देशिकः शिशून् अथान्यान् शक्तिदीक्षां वा कुर्यात् भावे स्थितो गुरुः
likhitaṃ daivamiti kha, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ pūjāṃ kṛtvā visarjayediti gha, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ vimalādīn visarjayediti ṅa, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ pūrṇāhutyā tu sannayediti kha, gha, cihnitapustakadvayapāṭhaḥ maucayedadhikāre vā niyuñjyāddeśikaḥ śiśūn athānyān śaktidīkṣāṃ vā kuryāt bhāve sthito guruḥ
“经文记载：‘此乃神圣法令’”：一部传本如是读。“既行供奉，当行遣送（visarjana）”：另一传本如是读。“当遣送毗摩罗（Vimalā）等”：又一传本如是读。“然须以圆满终献（pūrṇāhuti）使之成就”：两部写本同作此读。其后，逢具足资格或适当时机，行仪之师（deśika）应或解除弟子之持守，或分派诸童子及他人各就其职；又或导师安住于正当的虔敬之态（bhāva）时，可授予圣力灌顶（śaktidīkṣā）。
Lord Agni (traditionally instructing Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s ritual sections)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Text-critical and procedural guidance: recognize variant readings across recensions; in practice, complete worship with proper dismissal and/or pūrṇāhuti as prescribed; then the deśika decides—based on adhikāra—whether to release the disciple from observances, assign duties, or confer śaktidīkṣā when devotional readiness is present.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Recensional Variants on Visarjana and Pūrṇāhuti; Deśika’s Adhikāra-based Decisions and Śaktidīkṣā","lookup_keywords":["pāṭhabheda","visarjana","Vimalā-ādi","pūrṇāhuti","śaktidīkṣā"],"quick_summary":"Manuscripts differ on whether to emphasize dismissal (including Vimalā and others) and/or completion by pūrṇāhuti; the teacher applies the rule according to qualification, releasing or assigning disciples, and may grant śaktidīkṣā when the inner devotional state is ripe."}
Concept: Adhikāra (fitness/qualification) governs ritual permissions and initiatory grants; śāstra is transmitted with recognized pāṭhabhedas, requiring guided discernment rather than rigid literalism.
Application: When sources differ, follow lineage-approved paddhati and the deśika’s adjudication; do not confer śaktidīkṣā without bhāva (right inner state) and eligibility.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Diksha-vidhi (Tantric initiation and dismissal rites)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A guru consults marked manuscripts showing variant readings, then completes worship with dismissal and/or pūrṇāhuti; later he evaluates disciples’ eligibility, releasing some, assigning duties to children/others, and conferring śaktidīkṣā on a prepared seeker.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, guru seated with palm-leaf manuscripts, scribal marks visible, homa altar nearby, disciples in rows; one disciple receives a radiant śakti-blessing, others are instructed, traditional flat composition and warm tones","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, guru with manuscript and stylus, gold-leaf on manuscript edges and altar, scene split: pūjā completion with pūrṇāhuti and a separate panel-like moment of śaktidīkṣā with luminous aura, ornate borders","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic multi-scene layout: (1) manuscript variants, (2) visarjana gesture, (3) pūrṇāhuti, (4) adhikāra assessment and assignment, (5) śaktidīkṣā; clean lines and soft colors","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholarly atelier-meets-ritual pavilion: guru reading a manuscript with marginal notes, attendants holding ritual items, disciples awaiting instruction; a subtle halo indicates śaktidīkṣā moment, intricate textiles and architecture"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: विसर्जयेदिति = विसर्जयेत् + इति; सन्नयेदिति = सन्नयेत् + इति; मौचयेदधिकारे = मौचयेत् + अधिकारे; नियुञ्ज्याद्देशिकः = नियुञ्ज्यात् + देशिकः (त् + द् → द्द्). Verse contains multiple textual-variant notes (kha/gha/ṅa) preserved as indeclinable markers.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 27 (sections noting procedural options and completion rites)
FAQs
It gives procedural options for concluding a rite—performing pūjā, offering the pūrṇāhuti, formally dismissing invoked powers (visarjana), and outlines the guru’s authority to release or assign disciples, including granting śaktidīkṣā when appropriate.
It preserves multiple manuscript readings (kha/gha/ṅa) while teaching practical ritual administration—completion rites, dismissal protocols, and initiation authority—showing the text’s breadth across liturgy, pedagogy, and tantric procedure.
Correct completion (pūrṇāhuti) and proper dismissal (visarjana) prevent ritual imbalance and are held to secure the rite’s merit; the guru’s right bhāva ensures the initiation or discharge is spiritually effective and non-harmful.