Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 16
अध्याय १६२ — धर्मशास्त्रकथनम्
Dharmaśāstra Exposition: Authorities, Pravṛtti–Nivṛtti, Upākarman, and Anadhyāya Rules
अमेध्यशवशूद्रान्त्यश्मशानपतितान्तिके अशुभासु च तारासु विद्युत्स्तनितसम्प्लवे
amedhyaśavaśūdrāntyaśmaśānapatitāntike aśubhāsu ca tārāsu vidyutstanitasamplave
قرب النجاسات، أو الجثة، أو الشودرَة (Śūdra)، أو المنبوذ، أو أرض المحرقة، أو الشخص الساقط؛ وكذلك حين تكون النجوم مشؤومة، وأثناء البرق والرعد، وفي خضمّ مطرٍ عاصفٍ مضطرب—ينبغي اجتناب الشروع في الطقس.
Lord Agni (in discourse to Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Avoid initiating or continuing rites near contaminating persons/places (corpse, cremation ground, outcaste, fallen person) and during inauspicious astral/weather conditions; relocate or postpone to preserve śauca and siddhi.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Ritual avoidance zones and times: aśauca proximity and inauspicious stars/weather","lookup_keywords":["amedhya shava shmashana","patita antya shudra","ashubha tara","vidyut stanita"],"quick_summary":"Rites should be avoided near sources of impurity (corpse, cremation ground, etc.) and during inauspicious stellar conditions or violent weather (lightning, thunder, deluge)."}
Concept: Deśa-kāla-śuddhi: purity depends on place and time; proximity to death/impurity and hostile cosmic/weather signs obstruct ritual fitness.
Application: Choose a clean, protected ritual space; if unavoidable, postpone and perform śānti/purification according to one’s tradition.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Shaucha-ashaucha (Ritual purity rules and omens)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Type: Sacred/liminal place
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritualist refrains from worship as lightning and thunder break over a landscape; in the distance lies a cremation ground and a corpse-bier, marking the prohibited vicinity.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, dramatic monsoon sky with stylized lightning, a distant śmaśāna with funeral pyre iconography, priest stepping back from altar, symbolic inauspicious stars overhead","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, altar scene with gold detailing, storm cloud and lightning above, distant cremation-ground vignette, strong iconographic contrasts of purity vs impurity","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear didactic scene: ‘avoid here/now’ markers near corpse/śmaśāna and under inauspicious stars, fine linework and calm instructional tone","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, rainstorm with lightning over a riverside; small cremation-ground scene at margin; priest and attendants sheltering ritual items, detailed landscape"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Malkauns","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: Long initial compound ends in अन्तिके (locative); विद्युत्स्तनितसम्प्लवे = विद्युत् + स्तनित + सम्प्लवे.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 162 (śauca-aśauca and nimitta-based prohibitions)
FAQs
It lists ashaucha/inauspicious conditions—impure surroundings, proximity to death-associated places/persons, and adverse weather/astral signs—under which a ritual (puja, japa, homa, or other observance) should be postponed or avoided.
It combines dharma-shastra style purity regulations with jyotiṣa-style auspicious/inauspicious timing and environmental omens, showing how the text integrates ritual procedure, social-religious conduct, and astral considerations.
Performing rites in impure or inauspicious circumstances is treated as diminishing efficacy and merit; avoiding such conditions protects the sanctity of worship and supports the intended purificatory and merit-producing result.