Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 19
Chapter 72 — स्नानविशेषादिकथनम्
Special Rules of Bathing, Mantra-Purification, and Sandhyā
स्नानमाग्नेयकं स्पृष्ट्वा शुचा वुद्धूलकं चरेत् सूर्यांशुवर्षसम्पर्कैः प्राङ्मुखेनोर्ध्वबाहुना
snānamāgneyakaṃ spṛṣṭvā śucā vuddhūlakaṃ caret sūryāṃśuvarṣasamparkaiḥ prāṅmukhenordhvabāhunā
Après avoir touché (accompli) le bain Agneya, on doit, avec pureté, pratiquer le vuddhūlaka (bain de poussière, en se roulant dans une poussière propre). Par contact avec les rayons du soleil et la pluie qui tombe, qu’on le fasse face à l’est, les bras levés.
Lord Agni (in instruction to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Agneya bath and dust-bath (uddhūlana) combined with solar and rain contact, performed facing east with uplifted arms—used as a purificatory observance and energizing rite.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Agneya-snāna and śuci-uddhūlana with sunrays and rain (east-facing, arms raised)","lookup_keywords":["agneya-snāna","uddhūlana","sūryāṃśu","varṣa","prāṅmukha"],"quick_summary":"After performing the Agneya bath, roll/cleanse with pure dust and expose oneself to sunrays and rain, facing east with raised arms, as a rite of purification and consecration."}
Concept: Elemental alignment (agni, earth-dust, sun, rain/water) and directional discipline (east-facing) are used to reset ritual state and invoke auspiciousness.
Application: As a vrata-like śauca, combine bath + dust purification + brief exposure to sun/rain at an appropriate clean place, maintaining eastward orientation.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Shaucha-vidhi (Ritual Purification and Bathing Rites)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A practitioner, facing east with arms uplifted, completes an Agneya bath and then performs a clean dust-bath; sunbeams fall from the horizon while light rain descends.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, sunrise on the left (east), sādhaka with raised arms, stylized golden sunrays and silver rain lines, earthy dust foreground, temple-tank edge suggested","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, dramatic gold sunrays, raised-arm posture, textured earth/dust with gold highlights, rain rendered as fine silver-white strokes","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear depiction of posture (prāṅmukha, ūrdhvabāhu), sequence of agneya bath then dust-bath, minimal background for instructional clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, landscape with dawn sky gradient, delicate rain, figure oriented to the rising sun, fine detailing of dust and water droplets"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Suryakant (if available)","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: स्नानमाग्नेयकं = स्नानम् + आग्नेयकम्; प्राङ्मुखेनोर्ध्वबाहुना = प्राङ्मुखेन + ऊर्ध्वबाहुना; सूर्यांशुवर्षसम्पर्कैः = सूर्य-अंशु-वर्ष-सम्पर्कैः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 72 (Snāna varieties; śauca-vidhi)
FAQs
It teaches a specific snāna-procedure: after the Agneya bath, one performs a purificatory “dust-bath,” and then stands facing east with raised arms to receive purification through contact with sunlight and rain.
Alongside theology, the Agni Purana preserves practical manuals—here, detailed bodily/ritual hygiene (śauca) and bathing protocols—showing its role as a compendium of applied religious practice.
The acts described function as expiatory purification: aligning the body with elemental forces (fire/sun and water/rain) and prescribed orientation (east) to remove impurity and support ritual fitness.