Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 8
Chapter 22 — स्नानविधिकथनं
Instruction on the Rite of Bathing
मनुष्यान् सर्वभूतानि स्थावरान्तान्यथावसेत् न्यस्य चाङ्गानि संहृत्य मन्त्रान्यागगृहं व्रजेत् एवमन्यासु पूजासु मूलाद्यैः स्नानमाचरेत्
manuṣyān sarvabhūtāni sthāvarāntānyathāvaset nyasya cāṅgāni saṃhṛtya mantrānyāgagṛhaṃ vrajet evamanyāsu pūjāsu mūlādyaiḥ snānamācaret
মানুহ আৰু সকলো ভূতক—স্থাৱৰলৈকে—যথাস্থান বিসৰ্জন কৰিব। তাৰ পিছত অঙ্গন্যাস কৰি অঙ্গসমূহ সংহৃত কৰি, মন্ত্ৰ জপ কৰি যাগগৃহলৈ যাব। এইদৰে অন্য পূজাতো মূলাদি মন্ত্ৰে সমাপন-স্নান কৰিব।
Lord Agni (narrating ritual procedure to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s instruction mode)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Ritual closure protocol: dismiss invoked beings to their stations, perform nyāsa and saṃhāra (withdrawal), proceed to the yajña-gṛha while reciting mantras, and conclude with snāna using the root-mantra and principal mantras—standardizable across worship types.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Visarjana, Nyāsa-saṃhāra, Yajñagṛha-gamana, and Mūla-mantra Snāna (Concluding Bath)","lookup_keywords":["visarjana","saṃhāra nyasa","yajna griha","mula mantra snana","puja conclusion"],"quick_summary":"Close worship by formally dismissing all invoked beings, reabsorbing the ritual limbs via nyāsa-saṃhāra, moving to the ritual chamber with mantra-recitation, and performing concluding snāna with the root and chief mantras."}
Concept: Ritual must be sealed: invoked presences are respectfully released; energies are reabsorbed (saṃhāra) to restore normal order and prevent ritual ‘leakage’.
Application: Always perform visarjana and saṃhāra after puja; end with mantra-snana to finalize purification and transition out of the rite.
Khanda Section: Pūjā-vidhi (Ritual Worship Procedures)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"At the end of worship, the practitioner gestures dismissal to assembled beings, performs nyāsa and symbolic withdrawal, walks toward the yajña-gṛha chanting, and performs concluding bath with the root-mantra.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, concluding puja scene: priest making visarjana gesture, mandala fading, procession to yajñagṛha with lamps, then ritual bath depiction with mantra aura; stylized architecture and warm tones.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, ornate temple interior with yajñagṛha doorway, devotee concluding worship, gold-highlighted water for snāna, ritual implements arranged symmetrically, rich gold work.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional sequence panel: visarjana, saṃhāra-nyāsa points on body, walking to yajñagṛha, then snāna with mūla-mantra; clean composition and fine detailing.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, temple-house complex with a distinct ritual chamber, devotee moving with attendants holding lamps, then bathing scene with subtle mantra calligraphy motifs; refined architectural perspective."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyan","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: स्थावरान्तानि = स्थावर-अन्तानि. स्थावरान्तान्यथावसेत् = स्थावरान्तानि + यथा + अवसेत्. चाङ्गानि = च + अङ्गानि. मन्त्रान्यागगृहम् = मन्त्रान् + यागगृहम्. एवमन्यासु = एवम् + अन्यासु. स्नानमाचरेत् = स्नानम् + आचरेत्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana puja-vidhi on visarjana/udvāsana, saṃhāra-nyāsa, and snāna-vidhi with mūla-mantra
FAQs
It teaches proper pūjā-saṃhāra: dismissing invoked presences, performing nyāsa, withdrawing the aṅgas (ritual components), proceeding with mantra-recitation, and concluding with snāna using the mūla-mantra and associated mantras.
It preserves a procedural template for temple/household worship—covering dismissal, mantra-operations (nyāsa), and purification (snāna)—showing the Agni Purāṇa’s practical, manual-like coverage of ritual technology alongside its broader teachings.
Correct closure of worship prevents ritual incompleteness (doṣa), ensures the invoked sanctity is respectfully released, and completes purification through snāna, supporting merit (puṇya) and inner/outer śuddhi.