Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 8
जीर्णोद्धारः (Jīrṇoddhāra) — Renovation and Ritual Handling of Defective Liṅgas and Old Shrines
मन्त्रान् सन्तर्प्य सम्पूज्य वास्तुदेवातुं पूर्ववत् दिग्बलिं च वहिर्दत्वा समाचम्य स्वयं गुरुः
mantrān santarpya sampūjya vāstudevātuṃ pūrvavat digbaliṃ ca vahirdatvā samācamya svayaṃ guruḥ
Après avoir rassasié et honoré comme il se doit les mantras, et de même avoir rendu un culte à Vāstu-deva selon ce qui fut prescrit auparavant, il offrira au dehors le bali des directions. Puis, ayant accompli l’ācamana (gorgée rituelle de purification), le guru lui-même poursuit le rite.
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha in ritual and vāstu-related procedures)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Step-by-step sequencing in temple ritual: satisfy and worship mantras, worship Vāstu-deva as earlier prescribed, offer directional bali outside, then perform ācamana before the officiant proceeds.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Mantra-Tarpaṇa, Vāstu-deva Pūjā, Digbali and Ācamana Sequence","lookup_keywords":["mantra-santarpana","vāstu-deva","digbali","bahir-bali","ācamana"],"quick_summary":"Complete mantra satisfaction and worship, repeat the prior Vāstu-deva worship, place directional offerings outside, and purify by ācamana before continuing the rite."}
Concept: Ritual purity and spatial harmony are maintained by propitiating mantras, the site-spirit (vāstu), directions, and personal purification (ācamana).
Application: In any major pūjā/pratiṣṭhā, do not omit digbali and ācamana; treat them as stabilizers of the rite and its environment.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi & Vastu-vidhi (Ritual procedure for worship and offerings)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Type: Temple
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Priest at a sthaṇḍila offering water/flowers to mantras, then worshipping Vāstu-deva; assistants carry bali offerings to the outside corners/directions; the guru performs ācamana with a small spoon and water vessel before resuming.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, layered ritual space: inner sthaṇḍila with mantra offerings, Vāstu-deva symbol on the ground, outer courtyard where bali is placed to directions, priest performing ācamana, subdued sacred palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, richly ornamented ritual vessels, priest offering to Vāstu-deva, directional bali plates placed outside, gold highlights on lamps and kalasha, dignified ceremonial stillness","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional sequence in three registers: mantra-santarpana, vāstu-deva pūjā, digbali outside + ācamana close-up, clean detailing of utensils and hand gestures","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed courtyard with attendants moving outward to place bali at directional points, central priest at altar, fine depiction of ācamana gesture, architectural borders framing inside vs outside"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: vāstudevātuṃ in input appears corrupt; normalized to vāstu-devatām (acc. sg.) to fit syntax with santarpya/sampūjya. vahirdatvā → vahiḥ + datvā (visarga sandhi).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 103 (pūrvavat vāstu-deva worship referenced here); Agni Purana 103.7 (sthaṇḍila mantra-pūjā preceding)
FAQs
It gives the ordered ritual sequence: mantra-tarpaṇa and pūjā, Vāstu-deva worship as per prior injunctions, offering dig-bali outside the ritual area, and concluding with ācamana before the guru continues the ceremony.
It preserves a practical, manual-like liturgical workflow combining mantra-worship, vāstu theology (site-deity), directional propitiation (digbali), and purification (ācamana), illustrating how the Agni Purana functions as a compendium of applied ritual and architectural-sacral procedure.
By propitiating mantras, the site-deity, and the directional powers—then purifying oneself via ācamana—the rite is made ritually complete, removing obstacles (doṣa/vighna) and ensuring the act yields auspicious merit and protection for the space and sacrificer.