Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 38
Chapter 78 — पवित्रारोहणकथनं
Pavitrārohaṇa: Installing the Sanctifying Thread/Garland
देवाग्र्यात्मविभेदेन दर्ष्या तं विभजेत् त्रिधा दत्वा भागौ शिवाग्निभ्यां संरक्षेद्भागमात्मनि
devāgryātmavibhedena darṣyā taṃ vibhajet tridhā datvā bhāgau śivāgnibhyāṃ saṃrakṣedbhāgamātmani
En distinguant l’offrande selon les parts dues au Devāgrya (la divinité suprême), à Śiva et à Agni, on doit la diviser visiblement en trois parts. Après avoir donné deux parts à Śiva et à Agni, on doit en conserver et protéger une part pour soi-même.
Lord Agni (narrating Agni Purana instructions, traditionally to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","practical_application":"Ritual division of offerings into deity-shares: visibly apportion into three, assign portions to Śiva and Agni, and retain a safeguarded share for the yajamāna/performer.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Tribhāga-vibhāga: shares for Devāgrya, Śiva, Agni, and self-retention","lookup_keywords":["vibhāga","tribhāga","Śiva-bhāga","Agni-bhāga","ātma-bhāga"],"quick_summary":"Divide the offering into three visible portions according to prescribed shares; offer two portions to Śiva and Agni, and keep one protected portion for oneself as the sanctioned remainder."}
Concept: Dharma in ritual includes rightful distribution (bhāga) and safeguarding the performer’s sanctioned remainder, maintaining reciprocity between deity and yajamāna.
Application: In offerings/naivedya/homa materials, follow explicit apportionment to avoid ritual fault and to preserve the protected remainder.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Devata-nyasa and ritual division of offerings (Agni Purana ritual instructions)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual plate or cooked offering is divided into three clearly marked portions; two are placed before Śiva and the sacred fire, while the third is wrapped/covered and kept aside as protected remainder.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, top-down ritual tray divided into three, Śiva-linga and kuṇḍa shown, priest placing two portions, third portion covered with cloth as rakṣita-bhāga, bold outlines and earthy palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-embellished offering tray with three compartments, Śiva shrine and Agni flame with gold accents, priest’s hands in offering gesture, ornate borders","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, diagrammatic clarity: three-part division with labels (Śiva, Agni, Ātman), neat lines, soft colors, instructional emphasis","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed still-life of offerings on a carpet, priest distributing portions to a small Śiva shrine and fire brazier, third portion sealed in a covered bowl"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: devāgryātmavibhedena = deva+agrya+ātma+vibhedena; śivāgnibhyām = śiva+agni+bhyām; saṃrakṣedbhāgamātmani = saṃrakṣet + bhāgam + ātmani.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 78 (offerings, naivedya, rakṣā and homa distribution rules)
FAQs
It teaches bhāga-vibhāga: the practical rule for dividing an offering into three visible shares—two to Śiva and Agni, and one retained as the performer’s portion.
Beyond mythology, the Agni Purana preserves procedural ritual law—micro-instructions on how offerings are apportioned among deities and the officiant—showing its handbook-like coverage of worship practice.
Correctly allocating shares to the invoked deities is treated as preserving ritual order (ṛta) and ensuring the offering reaches its intended recipients, supporting merit (puṇya) and avoiding ritual fault (doṣa).