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
পদ্মাকৃতি তাম্রপাত্রে পৃথিবী-তত্ত্বের পূজা করা উচিত। এটি একান্ত স্থানে, সর্বভূতেশ (সকল জীবের অধীশ্বর)-এর সম্মুখে, পর্বত-আসনে শোভিত অবস্থায় সম্পন্ন হবে।
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).