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Agnipurana 78

English (machine translation) 78

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English

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78.1

Īśvara said:
I shall explain the investiture with sacred thread (pavitrārohaṇa), which makes rites, worship, and the like complete;
it is designated as regular (nitya), and the other as occasional (naimittika).

78.2

On the fourteenth day of the lunar months beginning with Āṣāḍha, and then in Śrāvaṇa and Bhādrapada,
on the fourteenth and eighth lunar days during the bright and dark fortnights, it should be performed;

78.3

or one may perform it up to Kārttika on lunar days beginning with the first (pratipad),
for Agni, Brahmā, Ambikā, Ganeśa, the Nāgas, Skanda, Sūrya, Śiva,

78.4

Durgā, Yama, Indra, Govinda, Kāma, Śambhu, and the gods.
[The thread should be] gold, silver, or copper in the Kṛta and subsequent ages, respectively;

78.5

and in the Kali age, made of cotton, or a thread of silk, lotus fibre, and the like.
The Praṇava, the Moon, Fire, Brahmā, the Serpent, Guha, Hari,

78.6

the Lord of All (Sarveśa), and all the gods reside in order in the nine strands.
One hundred and eight, half of that, and half of that [are the strands], from best to lowest;

78.7

or with eighty-one threads, or with thirty-six,

78.7.p1

[Footnote]

78.7.p2

1 "śarīronmādavāyavaḥ" is the reading of the manuscript marked gha.

78.7.p3

2 "svadhābhujām" is the reading of the three manuscripts marked kha, gha, and ṅa.

78.7.p4

3 "guho raviḥ" is the reading of the four manuscripts marked kha, ga, gha, and ṅa.

78.7.p5

4 "sadeśaḥ" is the reading of the manuscript marked kha, ga, gha, and ṅa.
[Page 231]

78.7_2

or it should be made with fifty, with equal spaces between the knots.

78.8

The measurements are twelve aṅgulas, or eight aṅgulas across,
or the size of the width of the liṅga, or four aṅgulas.

78.9

Likewise, touching the pedestal; the fourth is for all deities.
It should be made reaching down to the descent of the Gaṅgā, well formed and well washed.

78.10

One should tie the knot with the Vāmadeva mantra, and purify it with the Aghora mantra;
he should color it with the Tatpuruṣa mantra using red sandalwood and saffron,

78.11

musk, yellow rocanā, camphor, turmeric, and red ochre.
Ten knots are to be made, or according to the number of threads;

78.12

or the interval may be one, two, or four aṅgulas, according to aesthetic balance.
Prakṛti, Pauruṣī, Vīrā, and the fourth is Aparājitā,

78.13

Jayā, another Vijayā, the sixth Ajitā, and Sadāśivā,
Manonmanī, and Sarvamukhī—the extra knots are auspicious.

78.14

Or the sacred threads of the Moon, Fire, and Sun should be made on the chest, like Śiva's,
or one on each own icon, on the sacred book, on the guru, and on the assembly;

78.15

likewise, there should be one each on the door, the guardians of the directions, the water pots, and the like.
The sacred thread for liṅgas should range from one cubit (hasta) up to nine cubits.

78.16

From twenty-eight [threads], joined ten by ten in succession, / there they are separated by two aṅgulas, [or] in order by one aṅgula.

78.17

The measurement of their knots also corresponds to the breadth of the liṅga. / On the seventh or the thirteenth [tithi], having performed the daily rites, purified,

78.18

one should decorate the sacrificial pavilion in the evening with flowers, garments, and other articles.

78.18.p1

:n

78.18.p2

1. 'caṇḍavahnyarkapavitram' is the reading in the three manuscripts marked kha, ga, and ṅa.

78.18.p3

2. 'pustake gurave gaṇo' is the reading in the manuscripts marked kha and ṅa. / :p 232

78.18_2

Having performed the occasional twilight prayers and especially the water libations,

78.19

in the marked-out, consecrated precinct of the site, one should worship the Sun. / Having sipped water and performed the complete ritual imposition, the guru, holding the water offering with the praṇava,

78.20

having sprinkled the doors with the Astra mantra, should worship [them] in order beginning from the east: / 'Hāṃ, to the door of the Śānti kalā,' and likewise to the one whose essence is the Vidyā kalā,

78.21

to the door of the Nivṛtti kalā, and to the one whose essence is the Pratiṣṭhā kalā. / On their two door-jambs, at every door, he should worship two door-guardians:

78.22

To Nandin, to Mahākāla, to Bhṛṅgin, and then to Gaṇa, / to Vṛṣabha, to Skanda, to Devī, and to Caṇḍa in order.

78.23

And having entered [past] the daily door-guardians and others at the west of the door, / having worshipped the site deity and performed the purification of the elements, the guru, holding the special water offering and identified with Śiva,

78.24

having performed sprinkling and other rites, the person preparing the sacrificial materials / should consecrate them with kuśa grass, dūrvā grass, and the like, with flowers and other offerings, and with the Hṛdaya and other [aṅga-mantras].

78.25

Having thus formed the Śiva-hand, he should place it upon his own head: / 'I am Śiva, the primordial, the omniscient; mine is the preeminence in the sacrifice.'

78.26

The guru, holding the sword of wisdom, should intensely contemplate the Lord. / Having approached the southwest direction, facing north,

78.27

he should cast the water offering and the five cow-products over the entire sacrificial pavilion, / with the purifications culminating in the fourfold path, well purified by gazing and the like.

78.28

Having scattered the loose offerings there, he should collect them with a bundle of kuśa grass;

78.28.p1

:n

78.28.p2

1. 'sūtrite sūryamarcayet' is the reading in the four manuscripts marked kha, ga, gha, and ṅa.

78.28.p3

2. 'prokṣaṇācca' is the reading in the manuscript marked ga.

78.28.p4

3. 'vidhāyaikam' is the reading in the manuscript marked ṅa.

78.28.p5

4. 'brāhmaṇādyair' is the reading in the manuscript marked ga.

78.28.p6

5. 'daśakūrcopasaṃharet' is the reading in the manuscript marked kha. / :p 233

78.28_2

he should arrange them in the northeast direction as a seat for the vardhanī vessel.

78.29

In the southwest one should worship the site deities, and at the door Lakṣmī. / [One should place] the pitcher facing west, set upon all varieties of grain,

78.30

seated upon the bull by means of the praṇava, and then the vardhanī vessel seated upon the lion. / In the pitcher one should worship the divine Śiva with his limbs, and [his weapon] in the vardhanī vessel,

78.31

and in the directions the guardians of the directions headed by Indra, and Viṣṇu, Brahmā, Śiva, and the others. / Fully taking up the vardhanī vessel that follows behind the pitcher,

78.32

the ritual master should proclaim the command of Śiva from the east ending in the northeast. / With an unbroken stream of water, he should recite the root mantra.

78.33

He should carry it around everywhere for protection, [since it is] the embodiment of the weapon. / Having first installed the pitcher, to its left for the sake of the weapon,

78.34

in the pitcher on a complete seat he should worship the God on a firm seat; / in the vardhanī vessel resting on the praṇava, the weapon; thereafter, of the two,

78.35

he should effect the union of the yoni and liṅga with the liṅga mudrā. / Having offered the sword of consciousness in the pitcher, and likewise recitation of the root mantra,

78.36

he should also request protection in the vardhanī vessel with one-tenth of that [recitation]. / Having worshipped Gaṇeśa in the northwest, [and] Hara with the five nectars and other substances,

78.37

he should bathe him as before, and having first worshipped the fire of Śiva in the fire-pit,

78.37.p1

:n

78.37.p2

1. 'anīśadiśi' is the reading in the two manuscripts marked kha and ṅa.

78.37.p3

2. 'vardhanyāṃ śastramarcayet' is the reading in the manuscript marked ga.

78.37.p4

3. 'viṣṇubrahmāvasānakān' is the reading in the two manuscripts marked kha and ṅa.

78.37.p5

4. 'śastrālambhasya' is the reading in the two manuscripts marked ka and ga.

78.37.p6

5. 'rakṣāṃ ca kārayet sadā' is the reading in the manuscript marked ga.

78.37.p7

6. 'pūrvavat snāpayet prārced' is the reading in the manuscript marked ga; 'sthāpayet pūrvavaccāgnim' is the reading in the manuscript marked ṅa.

78.37.p8

7. 'kumbhe vā śivamarcayed' is the reading in the manuscript marked ga. / :p 234

78.37_2

and having prepared the sacrificial boiled offering according to rule, purified by the remnant oblations,

78.38

he should divide it threefold with a ladle into portions for the deity, the fire, and oneself. / Having given two shares to Śiva and the fire, he should reserve a share for himself.

78.39

A tooth-cleansing stick should be given in the east with the Astra and Kavaca mantras; / clay in the south or west with the Aghora and Śikhā mantras;

78.40

and in the north, water made fit for sipping with the Sadyojāta and the Hṛdaya mantras; / with the Vāmadeva and Śiras mantras, water endowed with perfume in the northeast;

78.41

the five cow-products in cups of palāśa and other leaves on all sides. / He should offer a flower in the northeast, and yellow orpiment in the southeast;

78.42

aloe-wood in the southwest direction, and fourfold perfume in the northwest; / all oblation materials together with freshly gathered kuśa grass;

78.43

a staff, a rosary, a loincloth, and an alms-bowl for the ascetic icon; / collyrium, saffron, oil, an application rod, a comb for cleaning hair,

78.44

betel, and a mirror, and he should also give yellow orpiment in the north; / a seat, sandals, a vessel, an ascetic's strap, and an umbrella

78.45

he should offer in the northeast with the Īśa mantra for the gratification of Īśāna; / in the east he should offer the caru porridge with clarified butter, [and] perfume and other articles in a new [vessel].

78.46

Having taken up the sacred threads, sprinkled them with arghya water, / and purified them with the Saṃhitā mantras, having brought them near the fire,

78.47

and covered them with a black antelope skin and the like, remembering the immutable Śiva / whose nature is the year, the witness of all actions, the protector,

78.47.p1

:n

78.47.p2

1. 'sadyojātena ca hṛdā cottare vāmanīyakam' is the reading in the manuscript marked kha; 'sadyojātena ca hṛdā cottare dhāma niṣphalam' is the reading in the manuscript marked ga.

78.47.p3

2. 'phalam' is the reading in the manuscript marked kha.

78.47.p4

3. 'daṇḍākṣasūtrakaupānatīrthapātrāṇi' is the reading in the manuscript marked ṅa. / :p 235

78.48

with the application of 'svāhā' and 'phaṭ' using the Saṃhitā mantras, / he should purify the sacred threads twenty-one times.

78.49

One should wrap the temple and other structures with threads, and offer perfume and the like to the Sun. / Having sipped water before the worshipped deity, having performed ritual deposition and offered arghya water,

78.50

[one should offer] the perfume to Nandin and the others, and of the site, and having entered, / to the weapons and the world-protectors, each by name, in the Śiva pitcher.

78.51

He should sacrifice unto the vardhanī pitcher, the lord of obstacles, the guru, and the Self. / Then, [taking] that which is smeared with all medicinal herbs, perfumed with incense, along with flowers and dūrvā grass,

78.52

and invoking that sacred thread, placing it in the middle of his cupped hands: / 'Oṃ, for the fulfillment of the rite and the repair of every ritual defect,

78.53

I invite you, who bring about the attainment of your desire; / permit its accomplishment for the sacrificer, O Lord of the conscious and unconscious!

78.54

In every way and at all times, O Śambhu, obeisance be to you; be pleased with me! / You are invited, O Lord of the gods, along with the Goddess, the lords of Gaṇas,

78.55

accompanied by the lords of mantras, the world-protectors, and your attendants! / I invite you to the sacred thread at dawn,

78.56

and I shall perform my observance by your command, O Supreme Lord!' / Having thus invited the god, [the sacred thread] made immortal through the out-breath,

78.57

uttering the basic mantra ending with Śiva, he should offer it to Śiva.

78.57.p1

[Gap in text]

78.57.p2

1. 'gandhākhyam' is the reading of the two manuscripts marked kha and ga.

78.57.p3

2. 'pūjanārthaṃ samācamya' is the reading of the manuscript marked ṅa.

78.57.p4

3. 'ravyādibhyo 'tha' is the reading of the manuscript marked ga.

78.57.p5

4. 'gandhādyam' is the reading of the manuscript marked ṅa.

78.57.p6

5. 'āmantraṇapavitram' is the reading of the manuscript marked kha.

78.57.p7

6. 'parivārakaiviti' [sic] is the reading of the manuscripts marked ga and ṅa. / page 236

78.57_2

Having performed recitation, praise, and prostration, he should ask Śambhu for pardon.

78.58

Having offered a third portion of the caru in oblation, he should give that to the fire of Śiva, / and to the quarter-dwellers, the quarter-lords, and the hosts of spirits and mothers,

78.59

to the Rudras and the protectors of the field: 'Namaḥ svāhā, this is the offering.' / With the elephants of the quarters and the others, in the east and the rest, an offering is made to the field and to Agni.

78.60

Having sipped water, he should perform a fire oblation that fills ritual defects. / Having made the full oblation and the vyāhṛti oblation, he should constrain the fire.

78.61

Then: 'Oṃ, to Agni svāhā! Svāhā to Soma indeed! / Oṃ, to Agni and Soma svāhā! Likewise, to Agni Sviṣṭakṛt!'

78.62

Having thus offered the set of four oblations, he should make the union: / the god worshipped in the fire-pit unto Śiva worshipped in the maṇḍala,

78.63

he should then unite by the rite having the form of channel-connection. / Placing it in a vessel of bamboo or the like, then [reciting] the weapon-mantra and the heart-mantra,

78.64

and having mounted the sacred threads, he should consecrate them with mantras by means of the parts; / or with the six limbs, the basic Brahman mantras, he should join the heart, dharma, and weapon.

78.65

Having performed [this], wrapped them with threads, and worshipped with the offerings produced for the limbs, / bowed with devotion, he should present them to the Lord of the universe for protection.

78.66

When it is worshipped with flowers, incense, and the like, offering [it] to the Siddhānta book, / and going near the feet of the guru, he should present the sacred thread with devotion.

78.67

Going out and sipping water outside, on three maṇḍalas made of cow dung,

78.67.p1

[Gap in text]

78.67.p2

1. 'śivājñayā' is the reading of the manuscript marked kha.

78.67.p3

2. 'bhūtamātṛgaṇeṣu phaṭ' is the reading of the manuscript marked ṅa.

78.67.p4

3. 'rudrebhyaḥ kṣetrapālebhyaḥ' is the reading of the manuscript marked kha.

78.67.p5

4. 'pūjayitvā tataḥ śivam' is the reading of the manuscript marked ga; 'pūjayitvātha sañcaraiḥ' is the reading of the manuscript marked ṅa. / page 237

78.67_2

he should sacrifice in order the five products of the cow, the caru, and the tooth-cleansing stick.

78.68

Having sipped water, bound by mantras, having performed vigil with music, / one desiring worldly enjoyment should sleep inside on a bed of darbha grass, remembering the Lord.

78.69

In this very manner, one desiring liberation also should lie down, / only on a bed of ashes, fasting and concentrated.

78.69.p1

Thus ends the seventy-eighth chapter, named 'The Rule of Preliminary Consecration of the Sacred Thread', in the primeval Mahāpurāṇa composed by Agni.

78.69.p3

Now, the seventy-ninth chapter.

78.69.p4

The Rule for Investiture with the Sacred Thread

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