Shloka 29

Matsya Purana — The Greatness and Procedure of the Aṅgāra

Devanagari script

तथास्तमित आदित्ये गोमयेनानुलेपयेत् प्राङ्गणं पुष्पमालाभिर् अक्षताभिः समन्ततः //

Transliteration

tathāstamita āditye gomayenānulepayet prāṅgaṇaṃ puṣpamālābhir akṣatābhiḥ samantataḥ //

Translation

Then, when the sun has set, one should smear the courtyard with cow-dung and adorn it on all sides with garlands of flowers and with unbroken rice-grains (akṣata).

Word by Word

• tathā: then/thereupon

• astamite āditye: when the sun has set

• gomayena: with cow-dung

• anulepayet: one should plaster/smear

• prāṅgaṇam: the courtyard/ritual ground

• puṣpamālābhiḥ: with flower-garlands

• akṣatābhiḥ: with unbroken rice grains (akṣata)

• samantataḥ: all around/on every side

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, within a didactic description of ritual/space preparation)

Entities Mentioned

• Surya (Aditya)
• Gomaya (cow-dung)
• Akshata

Tags

• Vastu
• RitualPurification
• TempleRites
• Auspiciousness
• GroundPreparation

FAQs

What does this verse reveal about the creation or dissolution (Pralaya)?

This verse does not address pralaya; it gives practical ritual guidance for preparing a purified, auspicious space (prāṅgaṇa) for sacred activity.

How does this verse relate to the duties of a King or Householder?

It reflects the householder/ritual patron’s duty to maintain śauca (purity) and maṅgala (auspicious order) before ceremonies—cleaning and sanctifying the venue with traditional purifiers (gomaya) and auspicious items (akṣata, flowers).

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

It describes ritual ground-preparation: plastering with cow-dung as a traditional purifier/coating and marking auspiciousness by circumferential decoration using flower garlands and akṣata—standard Vastu/ritual preliminaries before worship or consecratory rites.