Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 16
Chapter 64 — कूपादिप्रतिष्ठाकथनं
The Account of the Consecration of Wells and Other Water-Works
व्याहृत्या मधुपर्कन्तु वृहस्पतेति वस्त्रकं वरुणेति पवित्रन्तु प्रणवेनोत्तरीयकं
vyāhṛtyā madhuparkantu vṛhaspateti vastrakaṃ varuṇeti pavitrantu praṇavenottarīyakaṃ
Mit den vyāhṛtis soll man das madhuparka darbringen; mit dem Mantra «Bṛhaspati» das Gewand überreichen; mit dem Mantra «Varuṇa» das pavitra (Ring/Band aus kuśa-Gras zur rituellen Reinheit) darbringen; und mit dem Praṇava (Oṃ) das Obergewand (uttarīya) opfern.
Lord Agni (in instruction to Sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Assigning specific mantras to specific upacāras (madhuparka, vastra, pavitra, uttarīya) to ensure correct ritual sequencing and sanctification.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Upacāra–mantra mapping in Varuṇa-pūjā","lookup_keywords":["vyāhṛti","madhuparka","Bṛhaspati mantra","pavitra kuśa","praṇava uttarīya"],"quick_summary":"Offer madhuparka with vyāhṛtis; present garment with a Bṛhaspati-mantra; offer pavitra with a Varuṇa-mantra; and offer the upper cloth with Oṃ. The verse functions as a compact mapping of offerings to their mantra-keys."}
Concept: Ritual semiotics: each upacāra is ‘sealed’ by an appropriate mantra (śabda) to align offering (dravya) with deity-function and purity.
Application: Checklist for priests/householders to avoid mantra–upacāra mismatch during Varuṇa worship.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Vedic/Tantric ritual procedure and samskara details)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual sequence tableau: madhuparka bowl offered with vyāhṛtis, a folded garment presented with Bṛhaspati mantra, a kuśa pavitra ring offered with Varuṇa mantra, and an upper cloth offered with Oṃ.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, four-panel narrative within one frame: priest offering madhuparka, then vastra, then kuśa pavitra, then uttarīya; warm earthy palette, stylized ritual implements, mantra syllables subtly inscribed.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, richly ornamented offering trays: honey-milk madhuparka bowl, silk cloth, kuśa pavitra ring, uttarīya; gold embossing on vessels and textiles; deity altar in background.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore instructional painting, labeled implements and mantras near each offering, clear sequencing arrows, calm temple interior.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly precision: attendants present offerings on trays, priest recites, fine detail on textiles and vessels, marginal notes indicating vyāhṛti/Bṛhaspati/Varuṇa/Oṃ."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: vṛhaspateti = vṛhaspate + iti; varuṇeti = varuṇa + iti; praṇavenottarīyakam = praṇavena + uttarīyakam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 64.15 (snāpana/arghya); Agni Purana 64.17 (additional upacāras)
FAQs
It teaches upacāra-vinyāsa: which mantras should accompany specific honorific offerings in worship—madhuparka with the Vyāhṛtis, cloth with “Bṛhaspati,” the pavitra with “Varuṇa,” and the upper cloth with Oṃ.
It preserves a precise, procedural ritual checklist (mantra-to-object mapping) typical of practical handbooks, showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of detailed liturgical technique alongside its broader mythic and doctrinal material.
Correctly pairing mantra and offering is treated as maintaining ritual purity and efficacy (śuddhi and siddhi), ensuring the worship is properly sanctified and thus conducive to merit (puṇya) and purification.