Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 31
Chapter 24 — कुण्डनिर्माणादिविधिः
Procedure for Constructing the Fire-pit and Related Rites
नामान्तं व्रतबन्धान्तं समावर्तावसानकम् अधिकारावसानं वा कर्यादङ्गानुसारतः
nāmāntaṃ vratabandhāntaṃ samāvartāvasānakam adhikārāvasānaṃ vā karyādaṅgānusārataḥ
Der abschließende Ritus ist gemäß den vorgeschriebenen aṅgas (Nebenhandlungen) zu vollziehen: entweder beim Abschluss der Namensgebung, beim Abschluss des vratabandha (Einführung in Gelübde/Disziplin), beim Abschluss des samāvartana (Ritus der Beendigung der Schülerzeit und Rückkehr), oder beim Abschluss des eigenen adhikāra (der autorisierten Zeit der Befugnis).
Lord Agni (narrating the procedural dharma of samskaras)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Clarifies permissible endpoints for a concluding rite (samāpana) tied to specific saṃskāra milestones or the end of one’s ritual eligibility, ensuring closure with required aṅgas.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Samāpana-kāla Options: Nāmakaraṇa–Vratabandha–Samāvartana–Adhikāra-avasāna","lookup_keywords":["nāmakaraṇa","vratabandha","samāvartana","adhikāra","samāpana"],"quick_summary":"Concluding rites may be scheduled at key saṃskāra completions—naming, initiation/vow-binding, graduation—or at the end of one’s authorized eligibility, but must follow the prescribed aṅgas."}
Concept: Ritual life is structured by adhikāra (eligibility) and saṃskāra milestones; proper closure prevents unfinished obligations (anirvṛtta-karman).
Application: Plan rites with clear completion points; ensure all subsidiary acts are performed before declaring a rite concluded.
Khanda Section: Samskara-vidhi (Vedic rites of passage and ritual procedure)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A timeline-like depiction of saṃskāras with highlighted ‘conclusion’ points: naming, vratabandha (upanayana-like), samāvartana, and end of eligibility; the officiant performs final aṅgas before closure.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural; horizontal frieze showing four milestones—nāmakaraṇa, vratabandha, samāvartana, adhikāra-avasāna—each as a small vignette; central priest indicating samāpana with ritual gesture.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style; four ornate panels with gold borders for each milestone; the concluding rite shown with lamps, kalasha, and mantra gesture; rich jewel tones.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting; clean instructional chart with four scenes and captions; emphasis on aṅga completion—sprinkling, offerings, final namaskāra—before ‘samāpana’.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature; manuscript-like page with four miniature scenes in quadrants, each showing a rite’s completion; fine architectural interiors and delicate costumes."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: समावर्तावसानकम् = समावर्त-अवसानकम्; अधिकारावसानम् = अधिकार-अवसानम्; कर्यादङ्गानुसारतः = कार्याद् + अङ्ग-अनुसारतः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 24.30 (saṃskāra-krama); Agni Purana 24.32 (aṅga-based performance principle)
FAQs
It specifies when a concluding ritual should be performed—at the end of key samskaras (naming, vow-initiation, samāvartana) or when one’s ritual eligibility (adhikāra) ends—always following the required ancillary steps (aṅgas).
It functions like a concise ritual rulebook entry, cataloging multiple lifecycle/disciplinary endpoints and linking them to procedural compliance (aṅgas), showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of practical dharma alongside its many other sciences.
By completing rites at the proper endpoint and with correct subsidiary acts, the practitioner avoids ritual deficiency and secures the intended purificatory and merit-bearing (puṇya) result of the samskara or vrata.