Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 21
Chapter 57 — कुम्भाधिवासविधिः
Kumbhādhivāsa-vidhi: Rite of Installing/Consecrating the Ritual Jar
यवं सिद्धार्थकं गन्धं कुशाग्रं चाक्षतं तथा तिलान् फलं तथा पुष्पमर्घ्यार्थं पूर्वतो न्यसेत्
yavaṃ siddhārthakaṃ gandhaṃ kuśāgraṃ cākṣataṃ tathā tilān phalaṃ tathā puṣpamarghyārthaṃ pūrvato nyaset
Für die Arghya-Darbringung lege man vorne (nach Osten) Gerste (yava), weißen Senf (siddhārthaka), Duftstoffe, die Spitzen des Kuśa-Grases, Akṣata (ungebrochener Reis), Sesam, Früchte und Blumen nieder.
Lord Agni (in instruction to a sage/interlocutor in the Agni Purana’s ritual sections)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Arghya-dravya saṅgraha and eastward placement for offering hospitality to the deity; ensures completeness of upacāras.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Arghya-dravya list and pūrva (east) nyāsa","lookup_keywords":["arghya","yava","siddharthaka","akshata","kusha-agra"],"quick_summary":"Prepare arghya with specified auspicious items (barley, mustard, fragrance, kuśa tips, akṣata, sesame, fruit, flowers) and place it to the east/front as per pūjā order."}
Concept: Devatā-pūjā mirrors atithi-satkāra: offering arghya with śubha-dravyas as respectful reception.
Application: Standardize arghya materials and direction to maintain ritual correctness across household/temple worship.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Arghya and Upachara offerings)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A pūjā setup with a tray of arghya items—barley, mustard, sesame, akṣata, kuśa tips, fragrance, fruit, flowers—placed to the east/front of the altar.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, priest arranging arghya tray in front/east, clearly painted grains and flowers, lamp-lit mandapa, earthy palette with bold outlines","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, ornate arghya plate with gold detailing, heaps of akṣata and sesame, bright flowers, fruit, rich textile backdrop, gold accents","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean instructional still-life of arghya ingredients labeled by placement, altar to the west with arghya in front/east, soft shading","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, close-up of attendants presenting arghya platter with grains and flowers, intricate borders, naturalistic fruit rendering"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चाक्षतं = च + अक्षतम्; पुष्पमर्घ्यार्थं = पुष्पम् + अर्घ्यार्थम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 57 (Arghya and upacāra-nyāsa sequence)
FAQs
It prescribes the standard arghya-upacāra materials (barley, mustard, fragrance, kuśa tips, akṣata, sesame, fruit, flowers) and instructs their placement in the eastern/front direction as a preparatory ritual arrangement (nyāsa).
By cataloging precise ritual materials and their directional placement, it functions like a procedural manual for pūjā—one of the Agni Purana’s many practical knowledge domains alongside governance, medicine, architecture, and literary theory.
Correct arghya preparation and orderly placement of pure substances is treated as an act of reverential hospitality to the deity, supporting ritual purity (śuddhi) and accruing merit through disciplined, rule-based worship.