Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 13
Chapter 72 — स्नानविशेषादिकथनम्
Special Rules of Bathing, Mantra-Purification, and Sandhyā
कुम्भमात्रेण रक्षार्थं पूर्वादौ निक्षिपेज्जलं स्नात्वा रजोपचारेण सुगन्धामलकादिभिः
kumbhamātreṇa rakṣārthaṃ pūrvādau nikṣipejjalaṃ snātvā rajopacāreṇa sugandhāmalakādibhiḥ
Pour la protection, avec un seul pot d’eau, on doit déposer ou asperger l’eau vers l’est d’abord, puis vers les autres directions. Après le bain, on doit accomplir le culte avec le rajo-upacāra (offrandes en poudre), au moyen de substances parfumées telles que l’āmalaka et autres.
Lord Agni (narrating ritual procedure to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Directional water placement/sprinkling for protective boundary (dik-bandhana style) using a single kumbha; post-bath worship with powdered offerings and fragrant substances like āmalaka.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Kumbha-mātra Dik-rakṣā Jala-nyāsa and Rajo-upacāra with Sugandha (Āmalaka etc.)","lookup_keywords":["kumbha-mātra","dik-rakṣā","pūrvādi","jala-nikṣepa","rajo-upacāra","āmalaka"],"quick_summary":"Establish protection by placing/sprinkling water to the east and other directions using one pot, then after bathing offer fragrant powders—āmalaka and similar substances—as part of worship."}
Dosha: Pitta
Concept: Ritual order (dik-krama) and cleanliness/fragrance support sacred space-making; protection is enacted through simple, disciplined means.
Application: Before pūjā, mark directions with sanctified water from a single vessel; after bathing, keep offerings clean, fragrant, and measured.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Ritual Procedures and Purification Rites)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A worshipper with a single water-pot sprinkles water to the east and other directions forming a protective perimeter, then after bathing offers fragrant powders and āmalaka among other substances at the shrine.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, temple courtyard with directional sprinkling, visible compass-like layout, devotee holding kumbha, later scene with fragrant powder offerings in small bowls, rich earthy reds and greens","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, ornate kumbha with gold work, devotee sprinkling to four directions, shrine platform with bowls of fragrant powders and āmalaka fruits, decorative floral borders","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional top-down layout showing east-first sprinkling sequence, single kumbha emphasized, labeled directions, then offering of powders at altar","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtyard scene with precise architecture, devotee sprinkling water in cardinal directions, attendants holding trays of fragrant powders and āmalaka, fine botanical detail"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: निक्षिपेज्जलं = निक्षिपेत् + जलम्; सुगन्धामलकादिभिः = सुगन्ध + आमलक + आदिभिः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 72 (rakṣā, snāna, upacāra sequence)
FAQs
It teaches a practical rakṣā-vidhi: using a single kumbha of water to ritually place/sprinkle water in the directions (starting from the east), followed by post-bath worship using powdered fragrant offerings such as āmalaka.
It preserves procedural ritual detail—directional water rites, bathing protocol, and specific upacāras—showing the Agni Purana functioning as a compact manual of temple/household worship alongside its many other subjects.
Directional water placement and post-bath fragrant offerings are framed as protective purification acts, intended to remove impurity and establish ritual safety (rakṣā) before or during worship.