Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 7
Chapter 64 — कूपादिप्रतिष्ठाकथनं
The Account of the Consecration of Wells and Other Water-Works
शन्नो देवीति प्रक्षाल्य शुद्धवत्या शिवोदकैः अधिवासयेदष्टकुम्भान् सामुद्रं पूर्वकुम्भके
śanno devīti prakṣālya śuddhavatyā śivodakaiḥ adhivāsayedaṣṭakumbhān sāmudraṃ pūrvakumbhake
Après avoir lavé (les vases) en récitant « śanno devī… », on accomplira, avec des eaux purifiées et de bon augure, l’adhivāsana (consécration rituelle) de huit kumbha, et l’on mettra l’eau de l’océan (sāmudra-jala) dans le kumbha de l’Est.
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Vastu","practical_application":"Preparing abhiṣeka vessels: wash while chanting ‘śanno devī…’, consecrate eight kumbhas with purified auspicious water, and assign ocean-water to the eastern kumbha for directional completeness.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Aṣṭa-kumbha Adhivāsana with Śanno devī Mantra; Sāmudra-jala in Pūrvakumbha","lookup_keywords":["śanno devī","aṣṭa-kumbha","adhivāsana","śivodaka","sāmudra-jala"],"quick_summary":"Cleanse vessels with the ‘śanno devī…’ recitation, consecrate eight ritual pots using purified auspicious waters, and place ocean-water specifically in the eastern pot."}
Concept: Śuddhi (washing) precedes adhivāsana (ritual ‘indwelling’/charging), and direction (dik) organizes sacred power distribution.
Application: In any consecration workflow: cleanse tools first, then charge them with mantra and intentional placement.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Kalasha-sthapana and Abhisheka preparations)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Sacred water-source
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Eight ritual pots being washed with mantra, then arranged and consecrated; the eastern pot is filled with ocean-water, others with purified auspicious waters.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, row of eight kumbhas with leaf-crowns, priest washing them while chanting, directional markers, ocean-wave motif near the eastern kumbha, flat iconic style","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, eight ornate kumbhas with gold highlights, priest sprinkling purified water, eastern kumbha emphasized with blue ocean motif, rich decorative border","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional layout: eight kumbhas in compass arrangement, eastern pot labeled sāmudra, priest performing adhivāsana, delicate linework","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed brass pots and water textures, attendants carrying water from different sources, eastern pot filled with deep blue water, architectural courtyard setting"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: śanno = śam + naḥ (anusvāra sandhi); devīti = devī + iti (ī + i → ī); adhivāsayedaṣṭakumbhān = adhivāsayet + aṣṭakumbhān (t + a → d a by sandhi/phonetic joining).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 64 (kalaśa-sthāpana, abhiṣeka, dik-nyāsa of waters)
FAQs
It teaches kumbha-adhivāsa (ritual consecration/installation of kalashas): cleanse the vessels with the “śanno devī” mantra, then consecrate eight pots with sanctified water, placing sea-water specifically in the eastern pot.
It preserves highly procedural temple-ritual know-how—mantra application, purification steps, number of ritual vessels, and directional placement—showing the Agni Purana’s practical coverage of liturgy alongside its other sciences.
Mantra-based washing and the use of śiva-udaka (auspicious sanctified water) are meant to remove ritual impurity and make the kalashas fit to hold divine presence, supporting merit (puṇya) through correct, purified worship.