Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 17
Chapter 57 — कुम्भाधिवासविधिः
Kumbhādhivāsa-vidhi: Rite of Installing/Consecrating the Ritual Jar
तीर्थपर्वतमृद्भिश् च युक्तमप्यपरे न्यसेत् नागकेशरपुष्पञ्च काश्मीरमपरे न्यसेत्
tīrthaparvatamṛdbhiś ca yuktamapyapare nyaset nāgakeśarapuṣpañca kāśmīramapare nyaset
Certains prescrivent d’appliquer (la pâte/le tilaka) même lorsqu’elle est composée d’argiles de lieux saints et de montagne; d’autres prescrivent d’y ajouter des fleurs de nāgakeśara, et d’autres encore d’y ajouter le safran (kāśmīra).
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in ritual procedure)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Preparing ritual paste/marking material by compounding sacred clays (tīrtha and mountain) and optionally perfuming/augmenting with nāgakeśara flowers or saffron.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Compounded sacred clays with nāgakeśara and saffron additives","lookup_keywords":["tirtha-mrd","parvata-mrd","nagakesara","kasmira-kunkuma","tilaka-lepa"],"quick_summary":"Ritual paste may be compounded from tīrtha and mountain clays; some traditions further add nāgakeśara blossoms or saffron for fragrance, auspiciousness, and enhanced sanctity."}
Dosha: Pitta
Concept: Ritual efficacy is supported by dravya-guṇa (qualities of substances) and samyojana (proper compounding) as per lineage-specific options (apare).
Application: Choose additives (nāgakeśara/saffron) according to availability and tradition; maintain purity of sourcing and avoid adulteration, since these are high-value ritual aromatics.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Ritual worship procedures and sacred substances)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A priest mixes sacred clays in a small mortar, then adds nāgakeśara blossoms and saffron strands to create a fragrant ritual paste for marking/anointing.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, close-up of mortar and pestle with earthy paste, bright nāgakeśara flowers and saffron threads, priest’s hands mixing, stylized mountain and tīrtha symbols in background","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-highlighted bowls of clay, vivid saffron and flowers, ornate altar, rich reds and yellows emphasizing kāśmīra saffron, devotional still-life composition","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional depiction of compounding steps: clay base, then nāgakeśara, then saffron; labeled containers, clean lines and soft colors","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed atelier-like scene of preparing fragrant paste, tiny saffron strands rendered precisely, floral borders, elegant vessels and textiles"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Khamaj","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तीर्थपर्वतमृद्भिः = तीर्थ-पर्वत-मृद्भिः; युक्तमपि = युक्तम् अपि; नागकेशरपुष्पञ्च = नाग-केशर-पुष्पम् च।
Related Themes: Agni Purana 57 (pūjā-dravya options: mṛd, gandha, puṣpa)
FAQs
It gives alternative authoritative formulations for a ritual application (tilaka/gandha): mixing sacred or mountain clay, and optionally adding aromatic substances like nāgakeśara flowers and saffron.
By cataloging practical ritual materia (clays, flowers, saffron) and noting variant prescriptions (“apare”), it preserves multiple liturgical traditions—typical of the Agni Purana’s compendium-style coverage of worship technology.
Using tīrtha-clay and auspicious aromatics sanctifies the body for worship, functioning as a purity-marker and devotional embellishment that supports merit (puṇya) through properly performed ritual observance.