Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 7
Chapter 69 — स्नानविधानम्
Rules for Ritual Bathing / Snapanotsava-vidhi
यवव्रीहितिलांश् चैव नीवरान् श्यामकान् क्रमात् कुलत्थमुद्गसिद्धार्थांस्तच्छुक्तानष्टदिक्षु च
yavavrīhitilāṃś caiva nīvarān śyāmakān kramāt kulatthamudgasiddhārthāṃstacchuktānaṣṭadikṣu ca
Et l’on doit (déposer/offrir) l’orge (yava), le riz (vrīhi) et le sésame (tila) ; puis, selon l’ordre prescrit, le riz sauvage (nīvāra) et le millet śyāmaka ; ainsi que le kulattha (pois cheval), le mudga (haricot mungo) et la moutarde blanche (siddhārtha), avec leurs enveloppes, en les répartissant dans les huit directions.
Lord Agni (narrating the ritual procedure to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Directional offerings (dik-bali/nyasa of grains): distributing specified cereals and pulses with husks across the eight directions to stabilize and propitiate the spatial field.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Aṣṭadik-vinyasa of grains and pulses (yava, vrīhi, tila, etc.)","lookup_keywords":["aṣṭadik","yava","vrīhi","tila","mudga","siddhārtha"],"quick_summary":"Offer and place designated grains/pulses—often with husks—into the eight directions in a fixed order, creating a protective and nourishing ritual perimeter."}
Dosha: Tridosha
Concept: Dik-santulana: harmonizing directions through prescribed dravya offerings.
Application: When performing directional rites, keep order and completeness (all eight directions) to avoid ‘gaps’ in ritual protection.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Ritual offerings and directional placement of substances)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Around a central mandala, eight small offering spots are arranged; attendants place measured heaps of barley, rice, sesame, wild rice, millet, horse-gram, green gram, and white mustard with husks in each direction.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, circular/rectangular mandala with eight directional heaps of grains, earthy textures, priests placing offerings clockwise, minimal depth, ritual lamps","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold accents on offering plates, richly patterned heaps of grains in eight directions, central sanctum-like focus, ornate borders","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, diagrammatic clarity: eight labeled directions with distinct grain heaps, soft colors, instructional composition","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, meticulous depiction of different grains and husks, attendants moving around the mandala, architectural garden-courtyard setting"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: यवव्रीहितिलांश् = यवव्रीहितिलान् + (श् before च); चैव = च + एव; कुलत्थमुद्गसिद्धार्थान् = कुलत्थ + मुद्ग + सिद्धार्थान्; तच्छुक्तान् = तत् + शुक्तान्; अष्टदिक्षु = अष्ट + दिक्षु।
Related Themes: Agni Purana 69 (offerings by direction)
FAQs
It specifies a dravya-list (barley, rice, sesame, wild rice, millet, horse-gram, green gram, white mustard) and instructs their ordered distribution as offerings across the eight directions—i.e., a practical rule for directional bali/upanayana-style placement in pūjā.
By cataloging precise ritual materials and their directional application, it functions like a procedural manual—showing the Agni Purana’s compendium-style coverage of liturgy, offering-substances, and spatial (dik) organization used in temple and domestic rites.
Directional offerings are intended to harmonize the ritual space, satisfy presiding powers of the directions, and remove obstacles—supporting purification (śuddhi) and the accrual of ritual merit (puṇya) through correct observance (vidhi).