Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 3
Chapter 72 — स्नानविशेषादिकथनम्
Special Rules of Bathing, Mantra-Purification, and Sandhyā
तृणानि शिखयोद्धृत्य वर्मणा विभजेत्त्रिधा एकया नाभिपादान्तं प्रक्षाल्य पुनरन्यया
tṛṇāni śikhayoddhṛtya varmaṇā vibhajettridhā ekayā nābhipādāntaṃ prakṣālya punaranyayā
Ayant arraché des brins d’herbe par leurs pointes, qu’on les divise en trois parts au moyen de la protection (varmaṇa). Avec une part, qu’on lave depuis le nombril jusqu’à l’extrémité des pieds; puis, de nouveau, avec une autre part.
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Practical śauca technique using grass blades: divide into three and wash specific body regions in sequence for ritual cleanliness.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Tṛṇa-prakṣālana: grass portions for sequential washing","lookup_keywords":["tṛṇa","śikhā","prakṣālana","nābhi-pādānta","śauca"],"quick_summary":"Use tip-plucked grass divided into three portions to wash the body in a prescribed order, supporting standardized ritual purity before worship."}
Concept: Ritual purity is enacted through ordered bodily practice (kriyā) and attention to prescribed detail.
Application: Follow a consistent washing sequence and use clean natural implements when preparing for pūjā or vrata observances.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Shauca-kalpa (Ritual Purification Procedures)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritualist plucks grass by the tips, divides it into three portions, and uses one portion to wash from navel to feet, then repeats with another portion as instructed.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: close-up of hands holding grass blades, dividing into three bundles, then washing legs at a bathing spot; stylized anatomy, clear gesture emphasis, minimal background","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: ritualist seated near a water vessel, three grass bundles arranged neatly, gold accents on pot and border, iconic frontal pose showing the washing action","mysore_prompt":"Mysore instructional: diagrammatic sequence with three bundles labeled, arrows indicating washing from nābhi to pāda, delicate linework and readable composition","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: intimate bathing preparation scene with detailed textiles and water pot, the grass bundles shown precisely, naturalistic posture, soft shading"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: शिखयoddhṛtya→शिखया उद्धृत्य. विभजेत्त्रिधा→विभजेत् त्रिधा. नाभिपादान्तं→नाभि-पाद-अन्तम्. पुनरन्यया→पुनः अन्यया.
Related Themes: Agni Purana snāna-vidhi sequence (72.1–72.4); Agni Purana śauca-related instructions in other ācāra sections
FAQs
It teaches a specific shauca procedure: using blades of grass divided into portions to perform a prescribed washing of the lower body (from navel to feet) in a methodical, repeated manner.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purana preserves practical kalpa-style instructions for daily and ceremonial purity—fine-grained procedural details (materials, partitioning, sequence of washing) typical of an encyclopedic ritual manual.
Ritual washing (śauca) is treated as a prerequisite for worship and sacred acts; performing it correctly is understood to remove impurity (aśauca/mala), making the practitioner fit (adhikārin) for mantra, pūjā, and other meritorious observances.