Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 12
Chapter 64 — कूपादिप्रतिष्ठाकथनं
The Account of the Consecration of Wells and Other Water-Works
समुद्रं गच्छ गाङ्गेयात् सोमो धेन्विति वर्षकात् देवीरापो निर्झराद्भिर् नदाद्भिः पञ्चनद्यतः
samudraṃ gaccha gāṅgeyāt somo dhenviti varṣakāt devīrāpo nirjharādbhir nadādbhiḥ pañcanadyataḥ
Ô eaux du Gaṅgā, allez vers l’océan. Issues du nuage de pluie, vous êtes Soma et la dhenu, la vache laitière dispensatrice d’abondance. Ô Eaux divines, venez des sources et des rivières, de la terre de Pañcanada, le pays des Cinq Rivières.
Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purana narration to Vasiṣṭha, within ritual-instruction passages)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Mantra-based invocation and gathering of waters from multiple sacred sources for snāna, prokṣaṇa, and āpaḥ-prāśana/śānti in pūjā.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Mantra","entry_title":"Āpaḥ-saṅgraha: summoning waters from Gaṅgā, ocean, rain-cloud, springs, rivers, and Pañcanada","lookup_keywords":["devir-apah","Ganga to ocean","Soma rain-cloud","nirjhara springs","Panchanada"],"quick_summary":"The mantra sacralizes local water by identifying it with Gaṅgā, oceanic waters, rain (Soma), springs, rivers, and the Pañcanada region—creating a universal tīrtha-water for purification."}
Alamkara Type: Rupaka
Concept: Bandhu (correspondence): a small quantity of water becomes ‘all waters’ through mantra-identification and intention.
Application: For rites away from major tīrthas, invoke their presence through authorized water-mantras to create ritually complete snāna/prokṣaṇa water.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Tirtha-snana and Apah-prashamana (Ritual use of sacred waters)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: River
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual vessel of water on an altar, while behind it appear symbolic vignettes: Gaṅgā flowing to the ocean, rain-clouds pouring Soma-like rain, mountain springs, broad rivers, and the five-river landscape—converging into the single kalaśa.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, layered landscape bands: Gaṅgā river, ocean waves, monsoon cloud with rain labeled Soma, mountain spring, five rivers converging; central kalaśa on altar glowing with sanctity","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, central ornate kalaśa with gold leaf, surrounding medallions depicting Gaṅgā, ocean, rain-cloud, springs, rivers, Pañcanada; rich reds and greens, temple-like framing","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear instructional composition: arrows from icons (river, ocean, cloud, spring, five rivers) pointing into a single water pot; priest chanting ‘devīr āpaḥ’ beside it","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, panoramic riverine landscape with five tributaries, cloudburst, ocean shore; foreground scholar-priest with manuscript, small kalaśa receiving symbolic streams"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Megh","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: धेन्विति = धेनु + इति; देवीरापः = देवीः + आपः; निर्झराद्भिः = निर्झरात् + भिः; नदाद्भिः = नदात् + भिः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 64 (tīrtha-jala-nyāsa, snāna-mantras, āpaḥ-śānti)
FAQs
It functions as an āpaḥ-invocation: ritually summoning sanctified waters from famed sources (Gaṅgā, rain, springs, rivers, Pañcanada) for snāna (purificatory bathing) or ācamana/prokṣaṇa (sipping/sprinkling) in worship.
It blends ritual practice with sacred geography and Vedic symbolism (Soma, waters as devīs), showing how the Agni Purana catalogs practical worship procedures alongside pan-Indian tīrtha networks.
Invoking waters as divine and universally sourced frames bathing/sprinkling as a comprehensive purification act—linking the practitioner to major tīrthas and supporting inner and outer śuddhi (purity) for merit (puṇya) in rites.