Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 17
Chapter 64 — कूपादिप्रतिष्ठाकथनं
The Account of the Consecration of Wells and Other Water-Works
नदीक्षोदमिति ख, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः आसां रुद्रेति कीर्तयेदिति ङ, ग, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः इन्द्रियेति विचक्षण इति ग, घ, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः यद्वारण्येन पुष्पादि प्रदद्याद्वरुणाय तु चामरं दर्पणं छत्रं व्यजनं वैजयन्तिकां
nadīkṣodamiti kha, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ āsāṃ rudreti kīrtayediti ṅa, ga, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ indriyeti vicakṣaṇa iti ga, gha, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ yadvāraṇyena puṣpādi pradadyādvaruṇāya tu cāmaraṃ darpaṇaṃ chatraṃ vyajanaṃ vaijayantikāṃ
«nadīkṣodam» : telle est la leçon de la recension Kha (lecture manuscrite marquée). «On doit réciter “āsāṃ rudre …”» : telle est la leçon des recensions Ṅa et Ga (lecture marquée). «(…) “indriye …” (…) “vicakṣaṇa”» : telle est la leçon des recensions Ga et Gha (lecture marquée). Autrement, on offrira à Varuṇa des fleurs de forêt et autres (offrandes) semblables; et l’on offrira aussi un cāmara (chasse-mouches), un miroir, un parasol, un éventail, et une vaijayantikā (guirlande ou étendard de victoire).
Lord Agni (in Agni Purana’s standard frame: Agni instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Text-critical awareness of variant readings in ritual manuals plus practical upacāra alternatives (forest flowers and royal emblems) for Varuṇa worship.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Recensional variants and optional upacāras in Varuṇa-pūjā","lookup_keywords":["nadīkṣodam","āsāṃ rudre","indriye vicakṣaṇa","vāraṇya puṣpa","cāmara darpaṇa chatra"],"quick_summary":"Notes variant mantra/readings across manuscripts, then gives an alternative practical offering set: forest flowers and royal/auspicious emblems (cāmara, mirror, parasol, fan, vaijayantikā) to honor Varuṇa."}
Concept: Ritual tradition is both textual (mantra readings) and pragmatic (substitute offerings). Authority is negotiated through recension and allowable options.
Application: Guides practitioners when manuscripts differ or when standard items are unavailable—use vāraṇya flowers and rājopacāras.
Khanda Section: Pūjā-vidhi / Devatā-upacāra (Ritual worship procedure and offerings)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: Mountain
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A scribe’s marginal notes show variant mantra readings while a priest offers forest flowers and ceremonial items—fly-whisk, mirror, parasol, fan, and a vaijayantī garland—to Varuṇa’s shrine.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, split scene: palm-leaf manuscript with marked variants on one side, Varuṇa shrine on the other with attendants holding cāmara and chatra, forest flowers piled in baskets, bold outlines and stylized ornaments.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, Varuṇa idol with gold halo; attendants present cāmara and chatra; mirror and fan on offering tray; vaijayantikā garland prominent with gold embossing; manuscript motif in corner.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic: show alternative offerings neatly arranged and labeled; include a manuscript page with highlighted variant lines; calm, precise brushwork.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, atelier-like scene: scholar-priest comparing manuscripts, then worship scene with attendants holding parasol and fly-whisk; detailed flora for forest flowers; refined borders."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: nadīkṣodamiti = nadīkṣodam + iti; rudreti = rudra + iti; kīrtayediti = kīrtayet + iti; indriyeti = indriya + iti; yadvāraṇyena = yad + vā + araṇyena; pradadyādvaruṇāya = pradadyāt + varuṇāya; cāmaraṃ = ca + āmaraṃ (sandhi gives cāmaraṃ). Note: portions marked in the source as variant manuscript readings (cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ) are not analyzed as padas.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 64 (mantra-prayoga and upacāra lists)
FAQs
It specifies Varuṇa-pūjā upacāras: offering forest-sourced flowers (puṣpādi) and honorific items like cāmara, mirror, parasol, fan, and vaijayantikā; it also preserves variant mantra/readings across manuscript recensions.
Alongside ritual instructions, it records textual-critical details (recension markers and variant readings), showing the Agni Purana’s dual role as a practical ritual manual and a compendium that transmits multiple liturgical/mantric traditions.
Offering upacāras to Varuṇa honors the deity associated with waters and moral order (ṛta), supporting purification, appeasement, and ritual completeness—especially in rites connected with water, vows, and sanctification.