Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 40
Chapter 64 — कूपादिप्रतिष्ठाकथनं
The Account of the Consecration of Wells and Other Water-Works
ते तृप्तिमुपगच्छन्तु तडागस्थेन वारिणा तोयमुत्सर्जयेदेवं पञ्चगव्यं विनिक्षिपेत्
te tṛptimupagacchantu taḍāgasthena vāriṇā toyamutsarjayedevaṃ pañcagavyaṃ vinikṣipet
«Qu’ils parviennent à la satiété grâce à l’eau puisée dans un étang.» Ainsi, on doit verser l’eau en offrande, puis déposer (ou administrer) le pañcagavya.
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in ritual procedure)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Ritual offering of water (utsarjana) for satisfaction of beings/ancestors/deities, followed by administration/placement of pañcagavya for purification.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Tadāga-jala utsarjana and pañcagavya placement","lookup_keywords":["tadaga-jala","toya-utsarjana","tarpana","pancagavya","shuddhi"],"quick_summary":"Offer pond-drawn water with a satisfaction-intent (tṛpti) and then employ pañcagavya as a purificatory substance in the rite."}
Concept: External purity supports inner composure; ritual sequencing (krama) is itself a discipline of attention and reverence.
Application: Follow a clear order in rites: intention (tṛpti), offering (utsarjana), then purification (pañcagavya) as prescribed by one’s tradition.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Ritual Procedure and Purificatory Rites)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Type: Waterbody
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual performer draws water from a pond, pours it out as an offering with a blessing for satisfaction, then places a small vessel containing pañcagavya near the ritual setup.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, priest at a temple tank scooping water with a brass lota, pouring into a ritual space, small bowl of pañcagavya depicted with symbolic cow motifs, calm sacred setting with lotus tank.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-highlighted brass vessels, priest performing water-offering beside a stylized temple tank, pañcagavya container ornamented, rich reds and greens, devotional stillness.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean instructional composition: pond at left, pouring gesture center, pañcagavya vessel right, fine lines and soft colors, emphasis on sequence and objects.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed waterside pavilion, figure pouring water from a lota, attendants holding small containers, meticulous rendering of ripples and vessels, subdued palette."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तृप्तिमुपगच्छन्तु→तृप्तिम् + उपगच्छन्तु; तोयमुत्सर्जयेत्→तोयम् + उत्सर्जयेत्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: puja-vidhi sections on arghya/ācamanīya and śuddhi; Agni Purana: pañcagavya usage in prayaschitta/purification contexts
FAQs
It prescribes a specific ritual sequence: appeasement/satisfaction is effected by offering (releasing) pond-water, followed by the placement or administration of pañcagavya as a purificatory substance.
Beyond mythology, the Agni Purana functions as a procedural handbook: it records concrete, step-by-step śauca and prāyaścitta methods (materials like pond-water and pañcagavya), illustrating its coverage of applied ritual technology.
The act of offering water and using pañcagavya is framed as appeasement and purification—meant to remove ritual impurity, restore auspiciousness, and support merit (puṇya) through correct observance.