Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 14
Chapter 64 — कूपादिप्रतिष्ठाकथनं
The Account of the Consecration of Wells and Other Water-Works
आपो अस्मेति वर्षोप्त्यैर् व्याहृत्या कूपसम्भवैः वरुणञ्च तडागोप्त्यैर् वरुणाद्भिस्तु वश्यतः
āpo asmeti varṣoptyair vyāhṛtyā kūpasambhavaiḥ varuṇañca taḍāgoptyair varuṇādbhistu vaśyataḥ
Par le mantra «Āpo asm-», conjointement aux formules d’appel de la pluie et à l’énonciation des vyāhṛtis, en utilisant l’eau puisée d’un puits; et par l’eau prise d’un étang avec les (formules) de protection de l’étang, on met Varuṇa lui-même sous contrôle—en vérité, par les eaux mêmes de Varuṇa (c’est-à-dire l’eau consacrée à Varuṇa).
Lord Agni (in dialogue, instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in typical Agni Purana narration)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Varuṇa-upāsanā for rain, water-supply protection (wells/ponds), and ritual control through consecrated waters and Vedic utterances.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Varuṇa-vaśīkaraṇa by Āpo-mantra and well/pond waters","lookup_keywords":["Āpo asme","vyāhṛti","kūpa-jala","taḍāga-jala","Varuṇa-vaśya"],"quick_summary":"Use the mantra “Āpo asme…”, rain-invoking formulas, and vyāhṛtis with well-water; combine pond-water with pond-protecting formulas. Consecrated ‘Varuṇa-waters’ are treated as the operative medium to secure Varuṇa’s compliance."}
Concept: Mantra gains efficacy through proper medium (jala), source-specific sanctity (kūpa/taḍāga), and Vedic framing (vyāhṛti).
Application: Ritual protocol for invoking rain/protecting waterworks; reinforces disciplined use of mantra with correctly sourced water.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Mantra-prayoga (Water, rain, wells, ponds; Varuṇa-related rites)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: River
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A Varuṇa-rite beside a well and a pond: priests draw water in vessels, recite Āpo-mantras and vyāhṛtis, and consecrate the water as ‘Varuṇa’s own’ for rain and protection.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, Varuṇa seated on makara with pāśa, priests at a kūpa and taḍāga holding kalaśas, palm-leaf manuscript mantras, deep earthy reds/ochres, stylized water motifs, sacred aura around consecrated water.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central Varuṇa with gold halo and embossed ornaments, foreground well and pond with shining kalaśas, priests chanting vyāhṛtis, rich blues for water, gold work highlighting ‘Varuṇa-jala’ vessels.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional composition: labeled well-water and pond-water vessels, priest reciting ‘Āpo asme’ and vyāhṛtis, clean lines, soft colors, emphasis on ritual steps and implements.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed landscape with a stone well and lotus pond, attendants drawing water, a learned priest chanting, Varuṇa icon on a small altar, fine textile detail, delicate ripples and rain-cloud suggestion."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Megh Malhar","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: asmeti = asme + iti; varṣoptyaiḥ = varṣa + uptyaiḥ; taḍāgoptyaiḥ = taḍāga + uptyaiḥ; varuṇañca = varuṇam + ca; varuṇādbhis = varuṇāt + bhiḥ (with sandhi).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 64 (Varuṇa-pūjā/pujā-vidhi sequence: snāna, arghya, upacāra, adhi-vāsa)
FAQs
It teaches mantra-prayoga using specific sources of water (well-water and pond-water), combined with the vyāhṛtis and rain/pond-protection formulas, to propitiate and ritually ‘bring under influence’ Varuṇa—the deity governing waters and rainfall.
Beyond theology, it preserves practical ritual procedures tied to environmental needs—rain-invocation, water-source sanctification, and protection of communal water bodies—showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of applied rites alongside doctrine.
By ritually aligning with Varuṇa (guardian of ṛta/order and waters), the practitioner seeks purification and restoration of balance—removing water-related afflictions (scarcity, disorder) through sanctioned mantra and consecrated water.