Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 35
Chapter 72 — स्नानविशेषादिकथनम्
Special Rules of Bathing, Mantra-Purification, and Sandhyā
वामपाणिपतत्तोययोजनं सव्यपाणिना उत्तमाङ्गे क्रमान्मन्त्रैर् मार्जनं समुदाहृतं
vāmapāṇipatattoyayojanaṃ savyapāṇinā uttamāṅge kramānmantrair mārjanaṃ samudāhṛtaṃ
Le Mārjana (purification rituelle par aspersion) est déclaré être l’acte de prendre l’eau tombée dans la paume gauche et, de la main droite, de l’appliquer successivement sur le sommet de la tête tout en récitant les mantras.
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Daily/occasional purification in pūjā and sandhyā: perform mārjana by correctly handling water between palms and touching the head while reciting prescribed mantras.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Mārjana (sprinkling purification) method","lookup_keywords":["mārjana","ācāmana","śuddhi","palm-water","head-touch"],"quick_summary":"Mārjana is done by taking water that has fallen into the left palm and applying it with the right hand to the head in sequence while reciting mantras; it standardizes bodily purification before worship."}
Concept: External śuddhi (ritual cleanliness) supports inner steadiness and eligibility (adhikāra) for mantra and pūjā.
Application: Use consistent bodily gestures and mantra-recitation to cultivate attention and sanctity before any worship or japa.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Snana–Ācamana–Mārjana / Purificatory Rites)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A practitioner seated facing east, water in the left palm, right hand sprinkling/touching the crown of the head in a measured sequence while softly reciting mantras; a small pūjā setup nearby.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat warm palette, clean linework; a brahmin performing mārjana with left palm holding water and right hand touching the head, minimal background with lamp and kalasha, serene devotional ambience.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, rich reds and greens, gold leaf highlights on vessels and ornaments; devotee performing mārjana, stylized lotus motifs, gleaming brass lamp and kalasha, sacred clarity.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, delicate shading and fine lines; instructional depiction of hand positions for mārjana—left palm catching water, right hand applying to crown—annotated feel, calm interior shrine setting.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed textiles and water vessel; a seated ascetic performing mārjana with precise hand gesture, architectural niche background, subtle calligraphic cartouche for mantra-recitation."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: mantrair = mantraiḥ (visarga sandhi); kramān = kramāt (anusvāra/orthographic in IAST; here taken as adverb ‘kramāt’). Compound vāma-pāṇi-patat-toya-yojanam analyzed as a multi-member tatpuruṣa.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 72 (Snāna–Ācamana–Mārjana context); Agni Purana sections on Sandhyā/Śuddhi-vidhi (related procedural passages)
FAQs
It teaches the precise mārjana procedure: use water collected in the left palm and apply/sprinkle it with the right hand onto the head in a prescribed order while reciting mantras.
It preserves a manual-style, step-by-step liturgical detail of daily/occasional purification rites, showing the text’s coverage of practical temple and household ritual technique alongside theology.
Mantra-guided mārjana is a purification act intended to remove ritual impurity and prepare the practitioner for worship, japa, and other sacred actions with greater spiritual efficacy.