Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 16
Pavitrāropaṇa-vidhāna
The Procedure for Installing the Pavitra
विधिना विघ्नलोपेन परिपूर्णं तदस्तु मे प्रार्थ्य नत्वा क्षमाप्याथ पवित्रं मस्तके ऽर्पयेत्
vidhinā vighnalopena paripūrṇaṃ tadastu me prārthya natvā kṣamāpyātha pavitraṃ mastake 'rpayet
وبعد أداء الشعيرة على وفق القاعدة ومع زوال العوائق، يدعو قائلاً: «ليكن هذا كاملاً لي». ثم بعد الانحناء وطلب الصفح، يضع البافيترا (الحلقة/الحبل التطهيري) على الرأس.
Lord Agni (in discourse to the sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Closing protocol for pūjā: pray for completeness (paripūrṇatā), perform namaskāra and kṣamā-yācñā, then ritually place the pavitra on the head as a final purification/seal.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Pūjā-parisamāpti: Vighna-lopa, Paripūrṇatā-prārthanā, Kṣamā, and Pavitra-mastakāropaṇa","lookup_keywords":["vighnalopa","paripūrṇam astu me","kṣamāpana","pavitra","mastake arpayet"],"quick_summary":"After completing worship per rule and praying for obstacle-removal and completeness, bow, ask forgiveness for lapses, and place the pavitra upon the head to conclude purification."}
Concept: Ritual integrity is completed by humility (kṣamā) and a sealing act (pavitra-āropaṇa) after invoking obstacle-removal.
Application: Adopt a consistent closing: ‘May it be complete,’ then kṣamā-prārthanā, then a final purificatory gesture to mark closure and mental clarity.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Shuddhi-kalpa (Ritual Procedure and Purificatory Observances)
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"At the end of worship, the devotee bows, hands folded in apology, then lifts the pavitra cord/ring and places it on the head before the deity.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: priest before sanctum, gesture of namaskāra, then raising pavitra to the crown, lamps and temple pillars, warm ochres, clear ritual hand-poses.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: concluding pūjā moment with gold-highlighted pavitra and crown area, deity framed by ornate arch, devotee kneeling, rich gold work emphasizing ‘completion’.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: step-by-step visual—vighna-lopa prayer scroll, bowing, kṣamā gesture, then pavitra on head—clean instructional layout with delicate ornamentation.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: intimate shrine room, devotee prostrating then touching head with sacred cord, attendants holding pūjā tray, fine architectural borders and soft illumination."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: tadastu = tat + astu; kṣamāpyātha = kṣamāpya + atha; mastake 'rpayet = mastake + arpayet (avagraha).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 36 (pavitra-dhāraṇa and kṣamā sequence)
FAQs
It prescribes the closing act of a worship sequence: pray for the rite’s completeness, bow, seek forgiveness for errors, and then place the pavitra (a purificatory sacred ring/cord used in pūjā) on the head as a sanctifying gesture.
Beyond theology, it records precise liturgical micro-steps—completion-prayer, prostration, expiation, and handling of ritual implements—showing the text’s coverage of practical temple/household ritual procedure alongside other disciplines.
Seeking kṣamā (forgiveness) ritually acknowledges human error in worship and is treated as a means to neutralize faults (doṣa) so the act becomes spiritually “complete” (paripūrṇa) and free of obstructive karma (vighna).