Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 17
Worship of Gaurī and Others (Gauryādi-pūjā) — Mantra, Maṇḍala, Mudrā, Homa, and Mṛtyuñjaya Kalaśa-Rite
द्वारत्रयं त्रयं दिक्षु अथ वा भद्रके यजेत् स्थण्डिले वाथ संस्याप्य पञ्चगव्यामृतादिना
dvāratrayaṃ trayaṃ dikṣu atha vā bhadrake yajet sthaṇḍile vātha saṃsyāpya pañcagavyāmṛtādinā
দিশসমূহত তিনিটাকৈ দ্বাৰ বিন্যাস কৰিব; অথবা ভদ্ৰক-আলেখত পূজা কৰিব। নতুবা স্থণ্ডিলত স্থাপন কৰি পঞ্চগব্য, অমৃত আদি দ্ৰব্যেৰে সংস্কাৰ/অভিষেক কৰিব।
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the typical Agni Purana narrative frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Setting up a worship space using three gateways aligned to directions or using a Bhadraka diagram; consecrating the altar/deity on a sthaṇḍila with pañcagavya and amṛta mixtures for purification and sanctification.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Directional gateways, Bhadraka worship, and sthaṇḍila consecration with pañcagavya/amṛta","lookup_keywords":["dvāra-traya","Bhadraka","sthaṇḍila","pañcagavya","amṛta"],"quick_summary":"Outlines alternative ritual setups (three directional gateways or Bhadraka diagram) and prescribes consecration on an earthen altar using pañcagavya and amṛta-like sanctifiers."}
Concept: Sacred action requires a properly delimited and purified space; directionality and śuddhi substances support ritual legitimacy.
Application: Before pūjā/pratiṣṭhā, choose an approved layout (dvāra-traya or Bhadraka) and perform śuddhi on the sthaṇḍila with pañcagavya/amṛta preparations.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Ritual worship procedures; Mandala/Altar and consecration practices)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual ground is prepared with an earthen altar (sthaṇḍila), three gateways aligned to directions, or a Bhadraka diagram; the priest sprinkles pañcagavya and amṛta to consecrate the setup.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, top-down ritual courtyard with three ornate gateways, Bhadraka diagram option shown as a secondary panel, priest sprinkling pañcagavya from a vessel onto the sthaṇḍila, lamps and kalasha, earthy tones.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, consecration scene with gold-highlighted gateways and altar, priest holding a kalasha, droplets rendered as stylized pearls, Bhadraka diagram glowing, rich ornamentation.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear schematic of dvāra-traya in directions and Bhadraka diagram, priest performing prokṣaṇa on sthaṇḍila, labels for pañcagavya and amṛta, instructional composition.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtyard with geometric floor diagram (Bhadraka), three decorated entrances, priest and assistants with bowls of pañcagavya, fine architectural perspective and border illumination."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Madhyamavati","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वाथ = वा + अथ। संस्याप्य (पाठे) → संस्थाप्य (सम्+स्थाप्) इति ग्रहणम्। पञ्चगव्यामृतादिना = पञ्चगव्य + अमृत + आदिना।
Related Themes: Agni Purana 325 (pūjā-vidhi: maṇḍala, sthāpanā, śuddhi materials)
FAQs
It teaches a procedural option in worship: arrange directional gateways (dvāra-traya), or worship via a Bhadraka mandala, or install the deity on a sthaṇḍila and consecrate using pañcagavya and related sanctifiers.
It preserves practical, implementable ritual engineering—directional layout, mandala-based worship, altar installation, and purification substances—showing the text’s coverage of temple/household liturgy alongside many other sciences.
Directional order, proper installation, and purification with pañcagavya/amṛta are presented as means to make worship ritually valid and spiritually efficacious, removing impurity and ensuring the rite yields merit (puṇya).