Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 5
Jīrṇoddhāra-vidhāna
Procedure for Renovation / Replacement of Dilapidated Installations
वादित्रैः प्रक्षिपेत्तोये गुरवे दक्षिणां ददेत् यत्प्रमाणा च यद्द्रव्या तन्मानां स्थापयेद्दिने कूपवापीतडागादेर्जीर्णोद्धारे महाफलं
vāditraiḥ prakṣipettoye gurave dakṣiṇāṃ dadet yatpramāṇā ca yaddravyā tanmānāṃ sthāpayeddine kūpavāpītaḍāgāderjīrṇoddhāre mahāphalaṃ
On doit jeter dans l’eau (les offrandes prescrites) au son des instruments, et remettre au guru la dakṣiṇā (honoraires rituels). Quelles que soient les mesures prescrites et les matières requises, leurs justes quantités doivent être arrêtées ce jour-là même. Dans la restauration des puits, puits à degrés, étangs et autres ouvrages délabrés, le mérite spirituel est très grand.
Lord Agni (instructional narration to the sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vastu","practical_application":"Merit-making public works (jīrṇoddhāra of wells/ponds) with correct measurement-setting, ritual water-offering with music, and proper remuneration (dakṣiṇā) to the officiant.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Jīrṇoddhāra of water-works: dakṣiṇā, measurement-fixing, and great merit","lookup_keywords":["dakṣiṇā","vāditra","kūpa","vāpī","taḍāga"],"quick_summary":"Perform prescribed water-offerings with auspicious music, pay the guru’s dakṣiṇā, and fix measurements/material quantities on the same day; renovating wells, stepwells, and ponds yields great religious merit."}
Concept: Dāna and lokopakāra (public benefit) through restoring water infrastructure is high merit; dharma includes precise execution (māna-pramāṇa) and honoring teachers.
Application: Plan renovations with measured specifications and fair priestly remuneration; integrate ritual sanctification with practical engineering.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi & Dana-Dharma (Ritual procedure, gifts, and merit of public works)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A festive yet orderly renovation rite at a well/stepwell/pond: musicians play, offerings are cast into water, the guru receives dakṣiṇā, and builders mark measurements and material quantities for repair work.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stepwell/pond with lotus motifs, musicians with traditional drums and cymbals, guru receiving dakṣiṇā, workers measuring with rods/cords, earthy colors and temple-border ornamentation","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold-leaf on vessels and ornaments, central water body with shimmering highlights, musicians at one side, guru seated receiving dakṣiṇā, measurement tools and marked stakes shown clearly","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional composition: measurement-setting scene with rods and cords, ledger-like clarity, ritual offering into water with minimalistic elegance, fine facial expressions and textile detail","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, bustling civic-ritual scene at a tank, musicians, priest receiving coins/cloth, engineers marking dimensions, detailed architecture of ghats/steps, delicate water reflections"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: प्रक्षिपेत्तोये → प्रक्षिपेत् + तोये; यत्प्रमाणा → यत् + प्रमाणा; यद्द्रव्या → यत् + द्रव्या; तन्मानां → तत् + मानाम्; स्थापयेद्दिने → स्थापयेत् + दिने; कूपवापीतडागादेर्जीर्णोद्धारे → कूपवापीतडागादेः + जीर्णोद्धारे.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 67 (Jīrṇoddhāra chapter); Agni Purana 68 (Utsava after restoration/installation)
FAQs
It prescribes a ritual protocol for water-related rites/public works: make offerings into water with auspicious music, pay the guru/priestly dakṣiṇā, and ensure the correct standards of measurement and materials are set on the same day.
It blends ritual procedure (pujā-vidhi), economic-ethical norms (dakṣiṇā/dāna), and practical civic guidance (standardizing materials and measurements for repairing wells and ponds), showing how the text covers both spirituality and infrastructure.
Renovating ruined wells, stepwells, and ponds is declared to yield “great merit” (mahāphala), framing public water restoration as a high-value dharmic act that benefits society and accrues religious reward.