Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 17
Chapter 72 — स्नानविशेषादिकथनम्
Special Rules of Bathing, Mantra-Purification, and Sandhyā
क्रमेणोद्धूनयेन्मूर्ध्नि वक्त्रहृद्गुह्यविग्रहात् सन्ध्यात्रये निशीथे च वर्षापूर्वावसानयोः
krameṇoddhūnayenmūrdhni vaktrahṛdguhyavigrahāt sandhyātraye niśīthe ca varṣāpūrvāvasānayoḥ
Dans l’ordre prescrit, on doit secouer (les impuretés) vers le sommet de la tête, en partant de la bouche, du cœur, de la partie secrète et du corps. Cela se fait aux trois sandhyā (jonctions crépusculaires du jour), à minuit, et au commencement comme à la fin de la saison des pluies.
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Timed daily observance: ordered ‘shaking off’/expulsion of impurities (uddhūnana) with bodily loci and prescribed times (sandhyā-traya, midnight, monsoon transitions).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Uddhūnana (shaking off impurities) at sandhyās, midnight, and monsoon thresholds","lookup_keywords":["uddhūnana","sandhyā-traya","niśītha","varṣā-ādi","varṣā-anta"],"quick_summary":"Perform a sequential impurity-expulsion rite, moving through mouth, heart, secret region, and body, culminating at the crown; repeat at key temporal junctions for sustained ritual purity."}
Concept: Liminal times (sandhyā, niśītha, seasonal thresholds) are ritually sensitive; regular śauca at junctions stabilizes conduct and worship-eligibility.
Application: Anchor purification practices to daily and seasonal junctions to maintain consistency in vrata/pūjā routines.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Ritual Purification & Daily Observances)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A practitioner performs a sequential purification gesture, moving attention from mouth, heart, secret region, and body, culminating at the crown; background shows dawn, noon, dusk, midnight, and monsoon start/end as vignettes.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural with six small time-vignettes around central sādhaka; stylized sun positions and rain clouds; gesture of shaking off toward crown","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central figure with gold-highlighted crown point, surrounding medallions for sandhyā-traya and niśītha, monsoon clouds with gold edging","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional layout: arrows from mouth→heart→guhya→body→crown; side panels for times of performance","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, elegant courtyard scene with changing sky tones in margins; fine depiction of gesture sequence and seasonal rain border"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: क्रमेणोद्धूनयेत् = क्रमेण + उद्धूनयेत्; मूर्ध्नि unchanged; वक्त्रहृद्गुह्यविग्रहात् = वक्त्र-हृद्-गुह्य-विग्रहात्; वर्षापूर्वावसानयोः = वर्षा-पूर्व-अवसानयोः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 72 (Sandhyā-related śauca and pūjā preliminaries)
FAQs
It gives a procedural purification act—shaking off impurity in a prescribed bodily sequence—timed for the three daily sandhyās, midnight, and the opening/closing of the monsoon.
Alongside theology and mythology, it preserves practical ritual technology: precise timings (sandhyā, niśītha, seasonal thresholds) and bodily protocol, showing the text’s coverage of daily religious discipline.
By aligning bodily purification with liminal times (twilights, midnight, seasonal transitions), the practice is framed as removing subtle defilement and maintaining ritual fitness for prayer and worship.