Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 9
Kapilādipūjāvidhāna — Procedure for Worship Beginning with Kapilā
जप्तैः सदर्भशङ्खस्थैः सिञ्चेत्तं वारिविन्दुभिः सर्वपाकाग्रमुद्धृत्य शिवाय विनिवेदयेत्
japtaiḥ sadarbhaśaṅkhasthaiḥ siñcettaṃ vārivindubhiḥ sarvapākāgramuddhṛtya śivāya vinivedayet
Mit Wasser, das in einer Muschel (śaṅkha) mit heiligem Darbha-Gras gehalten wird und über dem Mantras rezitiert wurden, soll man dies mit Wassertropfen besprengen; dann soll man den vornehmsten Anteil aller gekochten Speisen entnehmen und ihn Śiva förmlich darbringen.
Lord Agni (narrating ritual procedure to Sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the usual Agni Purana discourse frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Naivedya-vidhi for Śiva: mantra-charged water in a conch with darbha is used to sprinkle; then the first portion of all cooked food is formally offered to Śiva.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Śiva-naivedya with darbha-śaṅkha-prokṣaṇa","lookup_keywords":["naivedya","śaṅkha","darbha","prokṣaṇa","śivāya-nivedana"],"quick_summary":"Consecrate the offering by sprinkling with mantra-empowered water held in a conch with darbha, then offer the foremost portion of the cooked food to Śiva."}
Concept: Īśvara-arpana (offering to the Lord first) and śuddhi through mantra and pavitra (darbha) as sanctifying agents.
Application: Before eating, set aside the first portion, sprinkle with mantra-charged water using a clean vessel (traditionally conch with darbha), and mentally/ritually offer to Śiva.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Shiva-upachara and Naivedya-vidhi)
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: Temple
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A conch filled with water and darbha; the practitioner sprinkles drops over the food while reciting mantras, then lifts the first portion and offers it before Śiva’s shrine.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, close-up ritual implements: conch with darbha, water droplets arcing onto a food platter, Śiva shrine in background with lamps, devotee in precise mudrā, saturated traditional palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, ornate conch and gold-highlighted darbha, food platter with embossed gold border, Śiva icon with gold aura, devotee presenting first portion, rich reds and greens","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional still-life emphasis: conch+darbha, sprinkled droplets, first-portion bowl raised toward Śiva, fine linework and gentle shading, clear ritual sequencing","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed rendering of conch, grass, and water droplets, indoor shrine niche with textiles, devotee offering a small portion on a leaf/plate, delicate realism"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: siñcettaṃ → siñcet + tam; sarvapākāgramuddhṛtya → sarvapākāgram + uddhṛtya.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 77.8 (Mṛtyuñjaya sevenfold consecration preceding naivedya)
FAQs
It teaches the naivedya-consecration step in Śiva-pūjā: sprinkle the offering with mantra-sanctified water kept in a conch with darbha, then offer the best/first portion of cooked food to Śiva.
By preserving precise, implement-based liturgical details (conch, darbha, mantra-sprinkling, first-portion offering), it functions as a practical ritual manual alongside the Purana’s many other domains of knowledge.
Mantra-charged sprinkling purifies and sacralizes the offering, and giving the first/best share signifies devotion and surrender, accruing puṇya through properly performed worship.