Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 41
Chapter 64 — कूपादिप्रतिष्ठाकथनं
The Account of the Consecration of Wells and Other Water-Works
आपो हि ष्ठेति तिसृभिः शान्तितोयं द्विजैः कृतं तीर्थतोयं क्षिपेत् पुण्यं गोकुलञ्चार्पयेद्विजान्
āpo hi ṣṭheti tisṛbhiḥ śāntitoyaṃ dvijaiḥ kṛtaṃ tīrthatoyaṃ kṣipet puṇyaṃ gokulañcārpayedvijān
Avec les trois versets commençant par «Āpo hi ṣṭhā…», les dvija doivent préparer l’eau d’apaisement (śānti). Ensuite, on doit y verser l’eau de tīrtha (eau sacrée de pèlerinage) comme acte méritoire, et offrir aussi aux dvija (brāhmaṇa) un troupeau de vaches (ou le don d’une vache).
Lord Agni (in discourse to the sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the Agni Purana’s common narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Prepare śānti-water by reciting the three ṛks beginning ‘Āpo hi ṣṭhā…’; combine with tīrtha-water for enhanced sanctity; perform go-dāna to dvijas as a merit-bearing act.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Śānti-toya with ‘Āpo hi ṣṭhā’ and tīrtha-jala; go-dāna","lookup_keywords":["Apo hi stha","shanti-toya","tirtha-jala","go-dana","dvija"],"quick_summary":"Use the ‘Āpo hi ṣṭhā’ triad to consecrate pacificatory water, add sacred pilgrimage-water, and complete the rite with cow-gift to brāhmaṇas for accruing puṇya."}
Alamkara Type: Anuvāda (scriptural citation)
Concept: Mantra and intention sacralize ordinary elements (water) into instruments of peace (śānti) and merit (puṇya).
Application: In rites of appeasement and purification, employ Vedic water-mantras and pair them with ethical acts (dāna), not mantra alone.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Shanti, Tirtha, Dana-vidhi)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Type: Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Brāhmaṇas chant ‘Āpo hi ṣṭhā’ over a water vessel, then a small vial of tīrtha-water is poured in; a cow (or symbolic cow-gift) is presented respectfully to the brāhmaṇas.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, priests chanting beside a kalasha of water with sacred threads, a small conch or vial adding tīrtha-water, cow-gift scene in the same panel, temple tank hinted in background, dignified serenity.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf kalasha and conch, brāhmaṇas with palm-leaf texts, donor offering a decorated cow with ornaments, rich temple setting, luminous sacred atmosphere.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear didactic layout: mantra-recitation over water, then mixing tīrtha-jala, then go-dāna; fine lines, gentle colors, emphasis on ritual objects (kalasha, spoon, cow).","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly donor presenting a cow to learned men, detailed vessels and textiles, a small scene of water consecration with chanting figures, architectural pavilion and distant river/ghat."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ष्ठेति→ष्ठा + इति (वैदिक ‘ष्ठा’); गोकुलञ्चार्पयेद्विजान्→गोकुलम् + च + अर्पयेत् + द्विजान्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: mantra sections citing Vedic ṛks for śānti; Agni Purana: go-dāna and dana-mahatmya passages
FAQs
It teaches a śānti-vidhi: preparing pacificatory water by reciting the three ‘Āpo hi ṣṭhā…’ verses, mixing/adding tīrtha-water for sanctity, and completing the rite with dāna—especially go-dāna to brāhmaṇas.
It exemplifies the text’s practical ritual manuals—linking Vedic mantra-application, tīrtha practices, and prescribed charity (dāna) as an integrated method for purification and merit, alongside the Purana’s many other disciplines.
The mantra-consecrated water is meant to pacify impurities/inauspiciousness (śānti), while tīrtha-water and go-dāna amplify puṇya (religious merit) and support the sacred order through gifts to qualified brāhmaṇas.