Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 36
Chapter 72 — स्नानविशेषादिकथनम्
Special Rules of Bathing, Mantra-Purification, and Sandhyā
नीत्वा तदुपनासाग्रं दक्षपाणिपुटस्थितं बोधरूपं सितं तोयं वाममाकृष्य स्तम्भयेत्
nītvā tadupanāsāgraṃ dakṣapāṇipuṭasthitaṃ bodharūpaṃ sitaṃ toyaṃ vāmamākṛṣya stambhayet
Ayant porté cette eau blanche—recueillie en coupe dans la paume droite et pourvue d’une vertu restauratrice—jusqu’à l’extrémité de la narine (du patient), on doit l’aspirer par la (narine) gauche et ainsi arrêter (le trouble/l’écoulement).
Lord Agni (Agni Purana’s primary narrator) instructing the sage Vashistha
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"A nasal procedure resembling nasya/pratimarśa: bringing medicated/efficacious water to the nostril tip and drawing it in through a specified nostril to check an unwanted flow/disorder.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Nāsāgra-praveśa (nasal intake) to arrest a disorder","lookup_keywords":["nasya","left-nostril","stambhana","nāsāgra","śita-toya"],"quick_summary":"White (cooling/clarifying) water held in the right palm is brought to the nostril tip and drawn in through the left nostril to produce stambhana—checking an excessive flow or disturbance."}
Dosha: Pitta
Concept: Regulation (niyama) of prāṇa-pathways via nāsā (nostrils) can stabilize bodily disturbances; left/right nostril specificity implies subtle physiology.
Application: Apply disciplined, side-specific breath/nasal practices only as appropriate—linking ritual/therapeutic acts to bodily balance.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda / Chikitsa-vidya (Therapeutic procedures and practical remedies)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A healer demonstrates a nasal therapy: cool white water cupped in the right palm is brought to the patient’s nostril tip; the patient gently draws it in through the left nostril to stop an excessive flow.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, earthy reds and ochres; vaidya assisting a seated patient, right palm cupping white water near the nostril, clear depiction of left-nostril intake, calm clinical-sacred setting.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style with gold accents on the water vessel and ornaments; a compassionate healer performing nasya-like procedure with luminous white water, stylized lotus border, auspicious medical sanctity.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, fine detailing; instructional medical scene showing hand-cupping, nostril tip alignment, and left-nostril inhalation, minimal background, emphasis on technique.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate clinic scene with patterned carpets; physician holding cupped water to patient’s nostril, delicate rendering of gesture and facial expression, annotated margin feel."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Ahir Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: tadupanāsāgraṃ = tat + upa + nāsā + agram; vāmamākṛṣya = vāmam + ākṛṣya (a+a sandhi).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 72 (Chikitsā-vidyā segment around nasal procedures)
FAQs
It teaches a practical Ayurvedic-style procedure resembling nasya: clear/white water is brought to the nostril and drawn in through the left nostril to ‘stambhana’—to check or arrest an unwanted condition or flow.
Beyond mythology, the Agni Purana preserves applied sciences; this verse records a concrete therapeutic technique (a procedural instruction), showing its coverage of medicine alongside ritual, polity, and other disciplines.
While primarily medical, such puranic remedies are framed as dharmic, welfare-oriented knowledge—supporting bodily steadiness (stambhana) that enables purity, self-control, and uninterrupted performance of duties and worship.