Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 21
Chapter 41 — शिलाविन्यासविधानं
The Procedure for Laying the Stones / Foundation Setting
पद्माकारे ताम्रमये भाजने पृथिवीं यजेत् एकान्ते सर्वभूतेशे पर्वतासनमण्डिते
padmākāre tāmramaye bhājane pṛthivīṃ yajet ekānte sarvabhūteśe parvatāsanamaṇḍite
في إناءٍ نحاسيٍّ على هيئة اللوتس، ينبغي عبادة مبدأ الأرض (بريثَڤي). ويُفعل ذلك في موضعٍ خالٍ، أمام سرفابهوتهيشا، ربّ جميع الكائنات، مُزَيَّنًا بمقعدٍ جبليّ (parvata-āsana).
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Elemental worship (pṛthivī-upāsanā) using a specified lotus-shaped copper vessel and a secluded ritual setting to support bhūta-śuddhi and stability.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Pṛthivī-pūjā in padmākāra tāmra-bhājana before Sarvabhūteśa","lookup_keywords":["pṛthivī-pūjā","padmākāra bhājana","tāmra (copper) vessel","bhūta-śuddhi","Sarvabhūteśa"],"quick_summary":"Worship the Earth principle in a lotus-formed copper vessel, performed in seclusion before Sarvabhūteśa seated on a mountain-throne; supports elemental purification and grounding."}
Concept: Bhūta-śuddhi begins with stabilizing pṛthivī-tattva; outer order (place, vessel, seat) mirrors inner elemental order.
Application: Use grounding practices—quiet setting, stable posture/seat symbolism, and consistent ritual container—to cultivate steadiness in worship and meditation.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Bhuta-shuddhi and Panchabhuta-upasana / Elemental worship procedure)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Sacred space
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A lotus-shaped copper vessel on an altar; the practitioner worships the Earth principle in a secluded shrine before Sarvabhūteśa seated on a stylized mountain throne.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Sarvabhūteśa on parvata-āsana, lotus-shaped copper vessel prominent, earthy browns and greens, quiet forest-temple seclusion, oil lamps and simple ritual gestures","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, Sarvabhūteśa enthroned with gold halo, ornate parvata-āsana, lotus copper vessel with gold highlights, rich temple interior, embossed decorative borders","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic composition showing padmākāra tāmra-bhājana labeled, priest performing pṛthivī-arcana, minimal background to emphasize procedure","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate secluded pavilion, copper lotus vessel rendered with metallic sheen, ascetic-priest offering flowers, Sarvabhūteśa icon in niche on mountain-seat motif"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: padmākāre → padma-ākāre; tāmramaye → tāmra-maye; sarvabhūteśe → sarva-bhūta-īśe; parvatāsanamaṇḍite → parvata-āsana-maṇḍite.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 41 (bhūta-śuddhi/pūjā-vidhi sequence)
FAQs
It prescribes the ritual setup for Pṛthivī-upāsanā: worship the Earth principle using a lotus-form copper vessel, performed in seclusion, with the deity (Sarvabhūteśa) installed on a mountain-seat (āsana) arrangement.
It exemplifies the text’s practical ritual engineering—materials (copper), iconographic forms (lotus), spatial rules (seclusion), and altar/seat design (parvata-āsana)—showing how the Agni Purana catalogs actionable liturgical procedures alongside its many other sciences.
Elemental worship disciplines the practitioner’s relationship with the gross element (earth), supporting purification and steadiness; the prescribed purity of place and correct implements are traditionally held to enhance ritual efficacy and merit (puṇya).