Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 4
Chapter 156 — द्रव्यशुद्धिः (Dravya-śuddhi) / Purification of Substances
मार्जनाद्यज्ञपात्राणां पाणिना यज्ञकर्मणि उष्णाम्बुना सस्नेहानां शुद्धिः सम्मार्जनाद्गृहे
mārjanādyajñapātrāṇāṃ pāṇinā yajñakarmaṇi uṣṇāmbunā sasnehānāṃ śuddhiḥ sammārjanādgṛhe
Im Verlauf der Opferhandlungen (yajña) werden die Ritualgefäße durch Abwischen und mit der Hand gereinigt. Fettige Gegenstände werden mit heißem Wasser geläutert; und im Haus wird Reinheit durch gründliches Fegen und Säubern bewahrt.
Lord Agni (instructing Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s ritual manuals)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Operational rules for maintaining purity in yajña and household: wiping ritual vessels, hand-cleaning during rites, using hot water for greasy items, and sweeping for domestic cleanliness.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Yajña-pātra and gṛha-śauca: mārjana, pāṇi-śuddhi, uṣṇāmbu, sammārjana","lookup_keywords":["yajñapātra","mārjana","uṣṇāmbu","sneha","gṛha-śauca"],"quick_summary":"During sacrifice, vessels are purified by wiping and by hand-cleaning; greasy items require hot water; household purity is maintained by thorough sweeping/cleaning."}
Concept: Outer cleanliness supports inner order in ritual life; śauca is maintained through repeated small actions (wiping, washing, sweeping) rather than occasional grand acts.
Application: Temple and home SOP: assign roles for wiping vessels during rites, keep hot water ready for oily residues, and schedule daily sweeping to maintain readiness for worship.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Yajna-śauca (Ritual procedure and purification)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A yajña scene: priests wiping ritual vessels, washing hands, a pot of hot water used to cleanse greasy utensils; nearby, a household interior being swept clean.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, sacred yajña-śālā with priests; rhythmic wiping of vessels; steaming hot-water pot; adjacent domestic courtyard being swept; subdued devotional palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-highlighted yajña vessels and ladles; priestly figures with ornate borders; hot-water pot with stylized steam; auspicious domestic cleanliness motif.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional depiction of steps: wipe, hand-clean, hot-water wash, sweep; clear sequencing and fine detailing of utensils.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed ritual interior; attendants cleaning vessels; hot-water cauldron; sweeping in the background; rich textiles and architectural arches."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: mārjanādyajñapātrāṇāṃ → mārjana-ādi-yajña-pātrāṇām; uṣṇāmbunā → uṣṇa-ambunā; sammārjanādgṛhe → sam-mārjanāt gṛhe.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 155 (Ācāra); Agni Purana 156 (Dravya-śuddhi)
FAQs
It gives practical śauca rules: yajña vessels are purified by wiping and hand-cleaning during rituals; greasy residue requires hot-water washing; household purity is maintained through thorough sweeping/cleaning.
Beyond theology, it records operational standards for ritual hygiene and domestic cleanliness—procedural dharma that functions like a manual for priests and householders.
Correct purification safeguards ritual validity and sattvic order; maintaining cleanliness in yajña and at home supports merit (puṇya) by aligning conduct with dharma and preventing ritual impurity.