Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 5
Pavitrāropaṇa-vidhāna
The Procedure for Installing the Pavitra
द्वारपालविष्णुकुम्भवर्धनीः प्रार्थयेद्धरिं अतो देवेति मन्त्रेण मूलमन्त्रेण कुम्भके
dvārapālaviṣṇukumbhavardhanīḥ prārthayeddhariṃ ato deveti mantreṇa mūlamantreṇa kumbhake
于灌顶宝瓶（kumbha）之仪中，当祈请哈利（Hari），并以起首为“ato deva…”之咒及根本咒（mūla-mantra），召请门卫神、毗湿奴（Viṣṇu）与司宝瓶增益兴盛之神（vardhanī）。
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha in ritual procedure)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Kalasha-sthāpana/āvāhana: invoke dvārapālas, Viṣṇu (Hari), and vardhanī-devatās into the kumbha using the specified opening mantra (“ato deva…”) and the mūla-mantra.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Kumbha-āvāhana of Dvārapāla–Viṣṇu–Vardhanī with “ato deva” and mūla-mantra","lookup_keywords":["kumbha","dvārapāla","vardhanī","ato deva mantra","mūla-mantra"],"quick_summary":"During kalasha rites, the officiant invokes protective and prosperity deities—door-guardians, Hari, and vardhanī—into the consecration pot using the prescribed mantras."}
Concept: Mantra establishes sacred presence (āveśa/āvāhana) and protective boundary (dvārapāla) before the main worship proceeds.
Application: Begin major worship by ritually ‘securing’ the space (guardians) and ‘seating’ the deity’s presence in the kalasha through consistent mūla-mantra japa.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Kalasha-sthapana and Dvara-pala/Vishnu invocation)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A decorated kalasha with mango leaves and coconut is placed on a mandala; the priest gestures āvāhana while two dvārapāla figures stand at the doorway and Viṣṇu is envisioned within the pot’s sanctified waters.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, prominent pūrṇa-kumbha with leaves and coconut, priest performing āvāhana mudrā, stylized dvārapālas at temple doorway, subtle Viṣṇu aura emerging from the kalasha, warm reds and ochres","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, ornate kalasha with gold embellishment, Viṣṇu icon radiance above the pot, dvārapālas flanking a doorway arch, heavy gold work and jewel tones","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear instructional depiction of kalasha setup on rice/mandala, labels for dvārapāla and vardhanī invocation, priest chanting “ato deva…”, fine detailing and calm composition","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, ritual scene with detailed metal pot, leaves, coconut, priest reciting from palm-leaf, doorway with guardian figures, delicate borders and architectural perspective"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: देवेति = देव + इति (ए + इ → एति). प्रार्थयेद्धरिम् = प्रार्थयेत् + हरिम् (त् + ह → द्ध).
Related Themes: Agni Purana: kalasha-sthāpana, āvāhana/nyāsa, dvārapāla-pūjā, Viṣṇu-ārādhana sequences
FAQs
It prescribes the mantra-prayoga for the kumbha (consecration-pot) rite: invoke Hari along with door-guardians and auspicious ‘increase’ powers of the pot, using the “ato deva…” mantra and the rite’s principal (mūla) mantra.
It exemplifies the text’s procedural catalog of worship: not only naming deities to be installed/invoked (Hari, dvārapālas, kumbha-vardhanīs) but also specifying mantra identifiers and hierarchy (auxiliary mantra vs. mūla-mantra), typical of ritual manuals embedded within the Purana.
Correct mantra-based invocation sanctifies the kumbha as a vessel of divine presence and auspicious increase, ensuring protection (through dvārapālas) and Viṣṇu’s grace, thereby supporting purity, success of the rite, and merit (puṇya) from properly performed worship.