Agnipurana 33

English (machine translation) 33

Language: English

33.4 — 2 parts
33.14 — 5 parts
33.20 — 10 parts
33.22 — 4 parts
33.24 — 3 parts
33.26 — 7 parts
33.27 — 1 part
33.35 — 6 parts
33.46 — 4 parts
33.53 — 3 parts

33.1

Agni said: / I will explain the investiture with the sacred thread, yielding the fruit of a year's worship of Hari. / From Āṣāḍha onwards to the end of Kārtika, the lunar days bestow wealth:

33.2

for Śrī, Gaurī, Gaṇeśa, Sarasvatī, and Guha, / for the Sun, the Mothers, the Durgās, the serpent deities, the sages, Hari, and Manmatha,

33.3

likewise for Śiva and Brahmā, in the order of lunar days beginning with the second lunar day. / The sacred thread belongs to whatever deity one is devoted to, on that lunar day.

33.4

The ritual is identical in the investiture, even if mantras and the like are separate.

33.4.p2

1. "vardhate tithiḥ" is the reading in the manuscript marked kha. / [Page 93]

33.4_2

[It may be made] of gold, silver, copper, silk, cotton, and the like.

33.5

Thread spun by a Brahmin woman, or consecrated if that is unavailable, / having tripled it and tripled it again, one should make the sacred thread with it.

33.6

Above one hundred and eight [threads], and half that, are the best and middle kinds. / "O Lord, for the purpose of removing impediments from defects in the rite, that which was declared by You,

33.7

that is being performed by me, O God, as and where the sacred thread [is offered]. / Let there be no obstacle here; make it so, O victorious and imperishable Master!"

33.8

Having prayed thus to the maṇḍala at first, a man should tie it with the Gāyatrī: / "Om, we know Nārāyaṇa; we meditate on Vāsudeva;

33.9

may that Viṣṇu impel us." According to the deity of deities, / the sacred thread on images should reach to the knees, thighs, or navel.

33.10

Reaching to the feet, it is a forest garland, made of a thousand and eight [threads]; / or the garland may be made according to ritual rule, double that of sixteen finger-breadths.

33.11

From the pericarp, filaments, petals, beginning with mantras, up to the end of the maṇḍala; / the sacred thread for the discus, lotus, and others is merely the finger-breadths of the maṇḍala.

33.12

On an altar, by measure of finger-breadths, twenty-seven for oneself; / and the threads for teachers, on books of parents and others,

33.13

reaching to the navel, with twelve knots, likewise in the fragrant sacred thread. / In making it two finger-breadths from the beginning, the double garland has one hundred and eight [knots],

33.14

or a twice-born person may make a garland of twelve, twenty-four, or thirty-six [knots], / using the ring finger, middle finger, and thumb, by those seeking garlands from slow [recitation] and so on.

33.14.p2

1. "pādāntareṇa mālā syādaṣṭottarasahasraśaḥ" is the reading in the manuscript marked ga.

33.14.p3

2. "gadādyam" is the reading in the manuscript marked gha.

33.14.p4

3. "cakrāṅgadau pavitrake" is the reading in the manuscript marked gha.

33.14.p5

4. "mandādau" is the reading in the two manuscripts marked kha and ga; "mandrādyaiḥ" is the reading in the manuscript marked gha. / [Page 94]

33.15

Or there may be twelve knots in the sacred thread, beginning from the little finger. / In the presence of the Sun, the water-pot, the fire, and so forth, the view is that it is like that of Viṣṇu.

33.16

The size of the pedestal should be the measure of the altar, and a small pit at the end of the belt, / according to capacity, in the attendant service of the cord-knots in the Vaiṣṇava rite.

33.17

Or seventeen threads, divided threefold by a thread; / with rocanā, agallochum, camphor, turmeric, saffron, and so forth,

or with sandal paste and the like, a man, having performed his bath, twilight prayers, and other rites, should dye [them]. / On the eleventh lunar day, in the sacrificial hall, he should worship the Lord Hari.

33.19

He should offer bali on the pedestal to the entire retinue: / with "Kṣyauṃ to Kṣetrapāla" at the door, and above the door to Śrī likewise;

33.20

to Dhātṛ and Vidhātṛ on the right, and to Gaṅgā and Yamunā likewise. / Having worshipped the treasures Śaṅkha and Padma, the removal of the spirits of the site in the center / with "To Sāraṅga", standing, he should perform the purification of elements of the living beings.

33.20.p1

"Oṃ hrūṃ haḥ phaṭ hrūṃ, I dissolve the subtle element of smell, homage!"

33.20.p2

"Oṃ hrūṃ haḥ phaṭ hrūṃ, I dissolve the subtle element of taste, homage! / Oṃ hrūṃ haḥ phaṭ hrūṃ, I dissolve the subtle element of form, homage!"

33.20.p3

"Oṃ hrūṃ haḥ phaṭ hrūṃ, I dissolve the subtle element of touch, homage!"

33.20.p4

[Footnotes]

33.20.p5

1 "And three threads in the bhadraka", reads manuscript marked gha.

33.20.p6

2 "oṃ hūṃ haḥ phaṭ hūm", reads manuscript marked ga; "oṃ hrāṃ haḥ phaṭ hrūm", reads manuscript marked ṅa.

33.20.p7

2 "oṃ hrīṃ haḥ phaṭ hrūn", reads manuscript marked ṅa.

33.20.p8

3 "oṃ hrāṃ haḥ hrūṃ", reads manuscript marked ga; "oṃ hrāṃ haḥ phaṭ hrīm", reads manuscript marked ṅa.

33.20.p9

4 "oṃ hrāṃ haḥ phaṭ", reads manuscript marked ga. / [Page 95]

33.20.p10

"Oṃ hrūṃ haḥ phaṭ hrūṃ, I dissolve the subtle element of sound, homage!"

33.21

With five breath-expulsions, the circle of earth consisting of the subtle element of smell, / square, yellow, firm, marked with a vajra,

33.22

presided over by Indra, located between the pair of feet, he should visualize; / and having anointed the pure subtle element of taste, he should then dissolve it. / In the mere form of the subtle element of taste, by this order the worshipper [should dissolve]:

33.22.p1

"Oṃ hrīṃ haḥ phaṭ hrūṃ, I dissolve the subtle element of taste, homage!"

33.22.p2

"Oṃ hrūṃ haḥ phaṭ, I dissolve the subtle element of form, homage!"

33.22.p3

"Oṃ hrīṃ haḥ phaṭ hrūṃ, I dissolve the subtle element of touch, homage!"

33.22.p4

"Oṃ hrīṃ haḥ phaṭ hrūṃ, I dissolve the subtle element of sound, homage!"

33.23

Located between the knees and navel, white, marked with a lotus, / of white color, and a half-moon, presided over by Varuṇa, he should meditate upon;

33.24

and with four breath-expulsions of it, that pure subtle element of taste / he should dissolve into the subtle elements of form, and dissolve into the subtle element of form:

33.24.p1

"Oṃ hrūṃ haḥ phaṭ hrūṃ, I dissolve the subtle element of form, homage!"

33.24.p2

"Oṃ hrūṃ haḥ phaṭ hrūṃ, I dissolve the subtle element of touch, homage!"

33.24.p3

"Oṃ hrūṃ haḥ phaṭ hrūṃ, I dissolve the subtle element of sound, homage!"

33.25

Thus, with three breath-expulsions of it, the triangular circle of fire, / located between the navel and the throat, red, marked with a svastika,

33.26

having meditated upon it presided over by Fire, he should lead that pure [element] to dissolution in touch.

33.26.p1

[Footnotes]

33.26.p2

1 "oṃ hrāṃ haḥ phaṭ ham", reads manuscript marked ga.

33.26.p3

2 "oṃ hrīṃ phaṭ ham", reads manuscript marked ga; "oṃ hrūṃ haḥ phaṭ hūm", reads manuscript marked ṅa.

33.26.p4

3 "oṃ hrīṃ haḥ phaṭ hrūṃ", reads manuscript marked ṅa.

33.26.p5

4 "oṃ hraṃ haḥ phaṭ hūm", reads manuscript marked ṅa.

33.26.p6

5 "Located in the middle of the padmāsana", reads manuscript marked ṅa. / [Page 96]

33.26.p7

"Oṃ hrauṃ haḥ phaṭ hrūṃ, I dissolve the subtle element of touch, homage! / Oṃ hrauṃ haḥ phaṭ hrūṃ, I dissolve the subtle element of sound, homage!"

33.26_2

Located between the throat and the nose, circular indeed, is the circle of wind;

33.27

with two breath-expulsions, smoke-colored, marked with a pure crescent moon, he should meditate upon it; / he should dissolve the subtle element of touch into the subtle elements of sound through the practice of meditation:

33.27.p1

"Oṃ hrauṃ haḥ phaṭ hrūṃ, I dissolve the subtle element of sound, homage!"

33.28

And with one breath-expulsion, space, resembling pure crystal, / situated between the nostrils and the tuft of hair, he should dissolve that space.

33.29

He should thus perform the purification of the body through desiccations and so forth in order, thereafter; / he should meditate upon the dried body from the feet up to the tuft of hair.

33.30

With the seed-syllable Yaṃ, and with the seed-syllable Vaṃ, [and] endowed with a garland of flames, / the body with Raṃ itself; gone out from the aperture of Brahmā,

33.31

and having meditated upon a drop of nectar, he should inundate the body of ashes with it; / having produced a divine body from this [seed-syllable] Laṃ,

33.32

and having performed ritual deposition on the hands and body, he should carry out mental sacrifice / to Viṣṇu with His limbs in the lotus of the heart with mental flowers and other offerings.

33.33

With the root mantra he should worship the Lord of gods, the giver of worldly enjoyment and liberation: / "Welcome, O Lord of the gods of gods, be present near, O Keśava!

33.34

Accept this mental worship properly conceived!" / Then the primordial power of support, the tortoise, Ananta, and the earth are to be worshipped;

33.35

in the center, and in the directions beginning with fire (southeast), the principles of righteousness and the rest; the non-righteousness and others in the directions beginning with Indra (east);

33.35.p1

[Footnotes]

33.35.p2

1 "oṃ kṣauṃ haḥ phaṭ krūm", reads manuscript marked ṅa.

33.35.p3

2 "oṃ kṣauṃ haḥ phaṭ krūm", reads manuscript marked ṅa.

33.35.p4

3 "jvālāmālāsamaprabham", reads manuscript marked ṅa.

33.35.p5

4 "yathāsvam", reads manuscript marked kha.

33.35.p6

5 "dharmādīnindrādau viparītakān", reads manuscript marked ṅa. / [Page 97]

33.35_2

sattva and the other [guṇas], and in the center the lotus, and the principles named Māyā and Vidyā,

33.36

the principle of time, the circles of the sun and others, and the king of birds (Garuḍa); / in the center and then from the northwest to the northeast, the line of teachers:

33.37

Gaṇa and Sarasvatī are to be worshipped, Nārada, Nalakūbara, / the guru, the sandals of the guru, the higher guru, and the sandals,

33.38

the past perfected ones, the higher perfected ones, and the powers on the filaments: / Lakṣmī, Sarasvatī, Prīti, Kīrti, Śānti, Kāntikā,

33.39

Puṣṭi, Tuṣṭi, in the directions beginning with east; in the center, Hari who is placed by speech; / Dhṛti, Śrī, Rati, Kānti, and others; Acyuta is installed with the root [mantra].

33.40

Having prayed with: "Oṃ be facing towards [me], become present!", / having performed deposition and having offered the water offering and the like, he should worship with perfumes and so forth with the root [mantra]:

33.41

"Oṃ terrify, terrify!" to the heart; "Frighten!" then to the head; / "Crush, crush!" to the tuft of hair; in the directions beginning with fire, the weapon with the weapon [mantra]:

33.42

"Protect, protect, destroy, destroy! Homage to the armor!" then; / "Oṃ hrūṃ phaṭ, homage to the weapon!", and the limb[-nyāsa] with the root seed-syllable.

33.43

In the east, south, west, and north, one should worship the enclosure of icons: / Vāsudeva, Saṅkarṣaṇa, Pradyumna, and Aniruddha.

33.44

Beginning with the south-east [are] Hari's icons Śrī, Dhṛti, Rati, and Kānti. / Beginning with the east [and south-east are] the conch, discus, mace, and lotus;

33.45

outside of that, the Śārṅga bow, the pestle, the sword, and the forest garland. / Indra and the other [guardians], and along with them Ananta; then Varuṇa in the south-west;

33.46

Brahmā between Indra and Īśāna; outside [is] the enclosure of weapons. / Then Airāvata, a goat, a buffalo, a monkey, a fish,

33.46.p1

33.46.p2

1. "gaṇaś ca tāsu pūjyo 'tha" is the variant reading in manuscript ṅa.

33.46.p3

2. "rakṣa rakṣa pradhvaṃsaya kavacāya" is the variant reading in manuscript ṅa.

33.46.p4

3. "oṃ hrīm" is the variant reading in manuscript kha. / :p 98

33.47

a deer, a hare, then a bull, a tortoise, a swan; then outside / are Pṛśnigarbha, Kumuda, and others—the door-keepers in pairs.

33.48

From the eastern entrance to the northern entrance, having bowed to Hari, outside / one should offer an oblation on the oblation pedestal, [saying,] 'Homage to the attendants of Viṣṇu.'

33.49

In the north-east one should worship [him] as Viśvaksena, whose self is the universe. / One should bind a protective thread on the right hand of the god:

33.50

'O teacher [of rites] performed through the year, who grants complete fruit, / wear this festive cord for the investiture with sacred thread! Oṃ homage!'

33.51

One should undertake the observance of fasting and the like in the presence of the god: / 'Observant of fasting and other [disciplines], I please the god.

33.52

May lust, anger, and all others never abide in me / from this day forward, O Lord of gods, until the special day!'

33.53

If the patron is unable, the observer of the votive observance may perform [the observance of eating only] at night and the like. / Having offered fire oblations and praised [him], one should dismiss [him]. The daily worship that brings prosperity [is]: / 'Oṃ hrīṃ śrīṃ homage to Śrīdhara, who enchants the three worlds!'

Other recensions (1)

Agnipurāṇa (Nag Publishers edition, Delhi) — Sanskrit

Linked texts (1)

Agnipurāṇa — Vyāsa, Sanskrit

Agnipurana 33

Contents

Other recensions (1)

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