Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 6
Chapter 64 — कूपादिप्रतिष्ठाकथनं
The Account of the Consecration of Wells and Other Water-Works
वरुणं स्नानपीठे तु ये ते शतेति संस्पृशेत् घृतेनाभ्यञ्जयेत् पश्चान्मूलमन्त्रेण देशिकः
varuṇaṃ snānapīṭhe tu ye te śateti saṃspṛśet ghṛtenābhyañjayet paścānmūlamantreṇa deśikaḥ
Sur la plate-forme du bain (snāna-pīṭha), le deśika (officiant) doit toucher et invoquer Varuṇa en récitant la formule « ye te śatam… » ; puis, ensuite, oindre de ghṛta (ghee) en employant le mūla-mantra (mantra racine).
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in ritual procedure)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Ritual bathing (snāna/abhiṣeka) protocol: invoke Varuṇa with a specific Vedic formula, then perform ghṛta-abhyanga using the deity’s mūla-mantra under the guidance of the officiant.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Snāna-pīṭha Varuṇa-sparśa (Ye te śatam) and Ghṛta-abhyanga with Mūla-mantra","lookup_keywords":["snāna-pīṭha","Varuṇa","ye te śatam","ghṛta-abhyanga","mūla-mantra"],"quick_summary":"During ritual bathing, first invoke Varuṇa with the ‘ye te śatam…’ formula, then anoint with ghee while reciting the root-mantra to sanctify and stabilize the rite."}
Dosha: Vata
Concept: Mantra + kriyā (touch/anointing) integrates intention, speech, and action to effect saṃskāra (consecratory transformation).
Application: Perform rites with sequential discipline: invocation (āhvāna/sparśa) first, then the physical saṃskāra (abhyanga) under the correct mantra.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Snana-vidhi / Deva-pratishtha and ritual bathing procedures)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A consecrated bathing platform where the officiant touches/invokes Varuṇa with mantra, then anoints the deity or ritual subject with ghee while reciting the mūla-mantra.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, snāna-pīṭha with ritual vessels, priest (deśika) performing sparśa-mudrā, stylized Varuṇa presence suggested by water motifs, then ghṛta anointing, muted sacred palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, deity on snāna-pīṭha with gold halo elements, priest applying ghee, ornate vessels, water-wave motifs for Varuṇa, rich gold work","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear depiction of sequential steps: touch-invocation then ghee anointing, labeled ritual items, delicate lines and soft shading","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, realistic ghee vessel and ladle, priest applying anointing, attendants holding water pots, architectural bathing platform with fine textile patterns"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Malkauns","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: śateti = śatā + iti (ā + i → e); ghṛtenābhyañjayet = ghṛtena + abhyañjayet (a + a → ā); paścānmūlamantreṇa = paścāt + mūlamantreṇa (t + m → nm).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 64 (snāna-vidhi, abhiṣeka, mūla-mantra usage)
FAQs
It teaches a specific snāna-vidhi sequence: invoke Varuṇa on the snāna-pīṭha using the “ye te śatam…” mantra-incipit, then perform ghee anointing (abhyaṅga) using the rite’s principal (mūla) mantra under the guidance of the deśika.
It preserves operational temple-ritual details—mantra cues, the order of actions (touching/invocation → anointing), and the officiant’s role—showing the Purana as a practical manual for liturgy alongside its mythic and doctrinal material.
Varuṇa-invocation aligns the rite with the purifying power of waters, while mūla-mantra-led anointing sanctifies the act as deity-centered worship; together they are intended to remove ritual impurity and stabilize the consecratory efficacy of the ceremony.