Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 8
Vināyaka-snāna (The Vinayaka Bath) — Obstacle-Removal and Consecratory Bathing Rite
चतुर्भिः कलसैः स्नानन्तेषु सर्वौषाधौ क्षिपेत् अश्वस्थानाद्गजस्थानाद्वल्मीकात् सङ्गमाद्ध्रदात्
caturbhiḥ kalasaiḥ snānanteṣu sarvauṣādhau kṣipet aśvasthānādgajasthānādvalmīkāt saṅgamāddhradāt
At the conclusion of bathing, one should pour an infusion of ‘all medicinal herbs’ using four water-pots (kalasas), taking the sanctifying material from a horse-stable, an elephant-stable, an anthill (valmīka), a river-confluence (saṅgama), and a lake (hrada).
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the common Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Prepare a concluding bath rite using four kalashas and a sarvauṣadhi infusion, incorporating sanctifying earth/water from specified potent locations for purification and protection.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Catuḥ-kalaśa snāna-ante sarvauṣadhi-kṣepa with potent-source collection","lookup_keywords":["caturkalasha","snana-ante","sarvaushadhi","valmika","sangama"],"quick_summary":"At the end of bathing, pour an all-herb infusion from four pots, using sanctifying materials gathered from symbolically potent sites (stables, anthill, confluence, lake) to complete purification."}
Concept: Śuddhi is completed by integrating dravya (substance), kāla (sequence/end of bath), and deśa (potent sources).
Application: Design purification routines with clear sequencing and carefully chosen materials/contexts to reinforce discipline and intention.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda / Snana-vidhi (Purificatory bath and herbal infusion rites)
Primary Rasa: Adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: Shanta
Type: River/Lake
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Four kalashas arranged at a bathing spot; attendants bring small portions of earth/water from horse-stable, elephant-stable, anthill, river confluence, and lake; the herbal infusion is poured at the bath’s conclusion.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: riverside bathing ghat, four decorated kalashas, attendants carrying baskets from valmika and vessels from sangama/hrada; stylized animals (horse/elephant) in background; ceremonial purity mood.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: richly ornamented kalashas with gold accents, bathing pavilion, confluence scene in background; attendants with offerings from anthill and lakeside; luminous devotional-ritual finish.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: diagrammatic clarity—four kalashas labeled, arrows showing sources (ashva-sthana, gaja-sthana, valmika, sangama, hrada); soft palette, instructional layout.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: detailed landscape with river confluence and lake, attendants collecting water/earth, elephants and horses near stables; precise vessels and textiles, narrative realism."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अश्वस्थानाद्गजस्थानाद्वल्मीकात् सङ्गमाद्ध्रदात् → अश्वस्थानात् + गजस्थानात् + वल्मीकात् + सङ्गमात् + ह्रदात्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Snana-vidhi and śuddhi-dravya lists; Agni Purana kalasha usage in rites and abhiṣeka contexts
FAQs
It prescribes a post-bath rite: using four kalashas to pour a sarvauṣadhi (all-herbs) infusion, linked with collecting sanctifying material/water from specified potent locations (stables, anthill, confluence, lake).
It combines ritual procedure (snāna-kalpa and kalasha usage) with Ayurvedic herbal concepts (sarvauṣadhi) and tīrtha-style location-based sanctity, showing the text’s integration of medicine, ritual purity, and sacred geography.
The act functions as a purification and merit-generating rite: herbal infusion and location-derived sanctity are employed to remove ritual impurity and strengthen auspiciousness after bathing.