Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 26
Rājābhiṣeka-kathana
Account of the Royal Consecration
यजुर्वेद्यथर्ववेदी गन्धद्वारेति संस्पृशेत् शिरः कण्ठं रोचनया सर्वतीर्थोदकैर् द्विजाः
yajurvedyatharvavedī gandhadvāreti saṃspṛśet śiraḥ kaṇṭhaṃ rocanayā sarvatīrthodakair dvijāḥ
Le yajurvédin et l’atharvavédin doivent toucher le corps en récitant « gandha-dvāra » (le mantra qui commence ainsi) ; avec la rocanā, ils toucheront la tête et la gorge, puis accompliront la purification avec des eaux tenues pour provenir de tous les tīrtha sacrés—ô deux-fois-nés.
Lord Agni
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Ritual purification (śuddhi) and mantra-nyāsa by touching specific body-points with mantra and sanctified substances before worship/rites.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Gandhadvāra-mantra sparśa-śuddhi (head & throat)","lookup_keywords":["gandhadvāra mantra","sparśa nyāsa","rocanā","sarvatīrtha udaka","yajurvedin atharvavedin"],"quick_summary":"Prescribes a touch-based purification using the ‘gandhadvāra’ mantra, applying rocanā to head and throat, and cleansing with water treated as ‘all-tīrtha’ water."}
Concept: Śarīra as a ritual vessel: purity is established through mantra, touch (nyāsa), and sanctified substances.
Application: Before pūjā/homa/abhiṣeka, perform mantra-sparśa to align speech-breath-body and mark readiness for sacred action.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Ritual Purification and Mantra-nyasa)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A twice-born priest touches head and throat while reciting ‘gandhadvāra’, holding a small rocanā container and a water vessel labeled as sarvatīrtha-jala; calm ritual setting with altar nearby.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, priest performing nyāsa-touch on head and throat, palm-leaf manuscript nearby, brass kalaśa of sarvatīrtha water, warm earthy reds and ochres, flat iconic composition, sacred cleanliness motif","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, richly adorned priest with ritual vessels, small rocanā box, gleaming brass pot, stylized altar elements, gold leaf highlights on vessels and sacred thread, frontal devotional composition","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, instructional clarity: labeled head/throat touch points, priest reciting mantra, neat linework, soft colors, minimal background with vedi and water pot","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate ritual chamber, detailed textiles, priest applying rocanā and sprinkling water, fine brushwork, naturalistic vessels, calligraphic mantra caption"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: यजुर्वेद्यथर्ववेदी = यजुर्वेदी + अथर्ववेदी; गन्धद्वारेति = गन्धद्वारम् + इति; सर्वतीर्थोदकैर् = सर्वतीर्थोदकैः (विसर्ग-लोप/रेफ् लेखन).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 218 (pūjā-vidhi/nyāsa-śuddhi sequence); Agni Purana sections on mantra-nyāsa and ācamana (related ritual preliminaries)
FAQs
It teaches mantra-sparśa (ritual touching/nyāsa-like application) using the “gandha-dvāra” mantra, along with applying rocanā to the head and throat and purifying with sarva-tīrtha water.
It preserves procedural details of pūjā-vidhi—mantra usage, bodily loci (head/throat), substances (rocanā), and the sacralization of water—showing the text’s practical manual-like coverage of ritual technique alongside broader theology.
The act is a purification and consecration: mantra-guided touch and tīrtha-water symbolism are intended to remove ritual impurity and make the practitioner fit for worship and Vedic acts, accruing merit through disciplined observance.