Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 16
Chapter 72 — स्नानविशेषादिकथनम्
Special Rules of Bathing, Mantra-Purification, and Sandhyā
तेन कृत्वा मलस्नानं विधिस्नानं समाचरेत् क्रूं फडन्तशरात्मना इति ख, ङ, चिह्नितपुस्तकद्वयपाठः क्रूं फडन्तशरात्मना इति ख, ङ, चिह्नितपुस्तकद्वयपाठः ईशतत्पुरुषाघोरगुह्यकाजातसञ्चरैः
tena kṛtvā malasnānaṃ vidhisnānaṃ samācaret krūṃ phaḍantaśarātmanā iti kha, ṅa, cihnitapustakadvayapāṭhaḥ krūṃ phaḍantaśarātmanā iti kha, ṅa, cihnitapustakadvayapāṭhaḥ īśatatpuruṣāghoraguhyakājātasañcaraiḥ
Après avoir ainsi accompli le malasnāna (bain de nettoyage des souillures), on doit ensuite exécuter le vidhisnāna (bain rituel prescrit), en employant le mantra sous forme d’arme-projectile : « krūṃ, phaḍ » (ainsi lisent les manuscrits marqués ‘kha’ et ‘ṅa’). [Cela se fait] avec les courants mantriques liés à Īśa, Tatpuruṣa, Aghora, Guhyaka et Ājāta.
Lord Agni (narrating ritual procedure to sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Two-stage ritual bathing: first malasnāna (removal of impurity), then vidhisnāna (consecrated bath) using krūṃ-phaṭ astramantra and pañcabrahma-linked mantra-currents.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Malasnāna and Vidhisnāna with Krūṃ-phaṭ and pañcabrahma currents","lookup_keywords":["malasnāna","vidhisnāna","krūṃ","phaṭ","pañcabrahma"],"quick_summary":"After a cleansing bath, perform the prescribed ritual bath, sealing with krūṃ-phaṭ astramantra and aligning recitation/nyāsa with the currents of Īśa, Tatpuruṣa, Aghora, (Guhya/Guhyaka), and Ājāta (Ājāta/Īśāna-related stream per tradition)."}
Weapon Type: Astra (mantra-as-missile)
Concept: Purification is staged: removal of mala precedes vidhi (sacramental order); mantra-streams map the body and rite to Śiva’s pañcabrahma principles.
Application: Structure daily/initiatory bathing into cleansing + consecrating phases, adding astramantra sealing and pañcabrahma-aligned nyāsa.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Snana-mantra-kalpa (Purification rites and mantra-directed bathing)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sādhaka completes malasnāna, then performs vidhisnāna while invoking krūṃ-phaṭ; five subtle streams labeled Īśa, Tatpuruṣa, Aghora, Guhya/Guhyaka, Ājāta encircle the body as nyāsa pathways.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, two-panel narrative: left cleansing bath, right consecrated bath; five colored mantra-stream bands around the figure, temple-tank backdrop","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, central figure with gold accents forming five radiating bands (pañcabrahma), mantra ‘krūṃ phaṭ’ in decorative cartouche, ritual vessels prominent","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, diagrammatic clarity: sequential steps malasnāna→vidhisnāna, five labeled currents around torso/head, calm instructional aesthetic","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined bath-house/ghat setting, delicate lines showing five translucent ribbons of light with names, calligraphic ‘krūṃ phaṭ’"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Ahir Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: समाचरेत् unchanged; फडन्तशरात्मना = फड् + अन्तः + शर + आत्मना. The long editorial note 'इति ख, ङ...' is treated as apparatus and not analyzed as verse-padas.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 72 (Snāna-mantra-kalpa; manuscript-variant note on krūṃ)
FAQs
It teaches a two-stage bathing protocol—first malasnāna (removal of impurity), then vidhisnāna (formal ceremonial bath)—powered by protective ‘astra’ mantra usage (krūṃ + phaḍ) and specific mantra-currents linked to named Śaiva aspects (Īśa, Tatpuruṣa, Aghora, etc.).
Alongside narratives, the Agni Purana preserves practical ritual engineering: variant manuscript readings, mantra-bīja deployment, and structured purification steps—showing how Purāṇic literature functions as a handbook for applied liturgy and esoteric ritual technique.
By pairing physical cleansing (malasnāna) with rule-governed sanctification (vidhisnāna) and protective mantra-weaponry, the rite is framed as both purification of defilement and warding of subtle obstacles, supporting ritual eligibility and auspicious karmic outcomes.