Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 13
Vināyaka-snāna (The Vinayaka Bath) — Obstacle-Removal and Consecratory Bathing Rite
हस्तपुष्याश्वयुक्सौम्यवैष्णवेषु शुभेषु चेति घ , ञ च साज्येनासादितस्य चेति क , छ च इमा आप इति छ , ञ स्नातस्य सार्षपन्तैलं श्रुवेणौडुम्बरेण च जुहुयान्मूर्धनि कुशान् सव्येन परिगृह्य च
hastapuṣyāśvayuksaumyavaiṣṇaveṣu śubheṣu ceti gha , ña ca sājyenāsāditasya ceti ka , cha ca imā āpa iti cha , ña snātasya sārṣapantailaṃ śruveṇauḍumbareṇa ca juhuyānmūrdhani kuśān savyena parigṛhya ca
Zu glückverheißenden Anlässen—wie (Tage oder Nakṣatras) Hasta, Puṣya, Aśvayuj, Saumya und Vaiṣṇava—soll man nach dem Bad Senföl (sārṣapa) als Opfergabe im Homa darbringen, mit einer Kelle aus Udumbara-Holz. Dabei hält man Kuśa‑Gras mit der linken Hand auf dem Scheitel und rezitiert die angegebenen Ritualformeln, einschließlich des Mantras, das mit „imā āpaḥ…“ beginnt.
Lord Agni (narrating ritual procedure in the Agni Purana)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Snāna-homa prayoga: choose auspicious nakṣatra/day markers, bathe, then offer sarṣapa-taila oblations with an udumbara-śruva while holding kuśa on the head and reciting specified mantras (e.g., 'imā āpaḥ').","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Snāna-Homa with Sarṣapa Taila using Udumbara Śruva on Auspicious Nakṣatras","lookup_keywords":["snāna-homa","sarṣapa-taila","udumbara-śruva","kuśa","imā āpaḥ"],"quick_summary":"On selected auspicious times, perform bath then homa with mustard oil using an udumbara ladle, maintaining kuśa on the head and reciting water-purification mantras for śānti and protection."}
Dosha: Vata
Concept: Kāla (auspicious timing) + śuddhi (snāna) + agni-kriyā (homa) as a combined technology for śānti and siddhi in rites.
Application: Plan rites by auspicious markers; keep implements (udumbara ladle, kuśa) and mantra sequence fixed to preserve prayoga integrity.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Snana-homa-prayoga (Ritual procedures: bath, auspicious timings, oblations)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"After bathing, a practitioner performs a small homa, pouring mustard oil with an udumbara-wood ladle into the fire, holding kuśa on the head with the left hand, reciting 'imā āpaḥ' and related formulas; auspicious nakṣatra symbols appear as a calendar motif.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, homa-kunda with bright stylized flames, priest holding udumbara ladle, kuśa on head, water pot nearby, faint nakshatra symbols (Hasta, Pushya, Ashvayuj) in border, earthy palette and temple ambience","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central homa fire with gold leaf flames, udumbara ladle and mustard oil vessel highlighted, priest with kuśa on head, ornate arch and lotus motifs, calendar-like nakshatra medallions around frame","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional layout: bath scene vignette leading to homa scene, clear depiction of udumbara śruva, kuśa placement, mantra scroll 'imā āpaḥ', soft colors and precise ritual implements","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtyard homa with detailed utensils, attendant holding oil pot, priest with kuśa, small panel showing starry nakshatra chart, fine linework and patterned textiles"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shuddha Dhanyasi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: हस्तपुष्याश्वयुक्सौम्यवैष्णवेषु = (dvandva compound) + -एषु; साज्येनासादितस्य = साज्येन + आसादितस्य; इमा आपः = इमाः + आपः; श्रुवेणौडुम्बरेण = श्रुवेण + औडुम्बरेण; (घ/ञ/क/छ etc. are treated as recitation/phoneme markers as transmitted).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 265 (snāna, homa, mantra lists; rakṣā rites)
FAQs
It teaches a specific purification-and-homa prayoga: after bathing, offer mustard oil into the fire using an udumbara-wood ladle, while holding kuśa on the head with the left hand and reciting the prescribed mantras (including “imā āpaḥ…”), preferably at auspicious times (Hasta, Puṣya, etc.).
It preserves a practical ritual micro-protocol—timing (nakṣatra/auspicious markers), materials (mustard oil, udumbara ladle, kuśa), bodily posture/handling, and mantra-incorporation—showing the Agni Purana’s manual-like coverage of applied religious technology alongside broader theology.
The sequence links bodily purification (snāna), mantra-purification (water mantra), and fire-offering (homa) into a single expiatory/auspicious act intended to remove impurity and secure śubha-phala (beneficial results) through correctly timed and correctly performed rite.