Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 39
Chapter 78 — पवित्रारोहणकथनं
Pavitrārohaṇa: Installing the Sanctifying Thread/Garland
शरेण चर्मणा देयं पूर्वतो दन्तधावनं तस्माद्घोरशिखाभ्यां वा दक्षिणे पश्चिमे मृदं
śareṇa carmaṇā deyaṃ pūrvato dantadhāvanaṃ tasmādghoraśikhābhyāṃ vā dakṣiṇe paścime mṛdaṃ
Le nettoyage des dents doit se faire tourné vers l’est, en utilisant une brindille comme bâtonnet et un morceau de cuir comme aide. Ensuite, on doit prendre de la terre purificatrice (boue) avec l’index et le majeur, et l’appliquer du côté droit ou du côté ouest (selon la prescription).
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Ayurveda","practical_application":"Daily śauca routine: directionality for dantadhāvana (facing east), tools used, and prescribed handling/application of cleansing earth (mṛd) with specific fingers and sides.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Śauca: dantadhāvana facing east and mṛd-grahaṇa/application rules","lookup_keywords":["śauca","dantadhāvana","prāṅmukha","mṛd","ācamanādi"],"quick_summary":"Perform tooth-cleaning facing east with the prescribed implement, then take cleansing earth in the specified manner and apply it according to the stated directional/side rule as part of daily purification."}
Concept: External purity (bāhya-śauca) supports ritual eligibility and mental clarity; direction and method are part of dhārmic discipline.
Application: Adopt consistent morning purification habits before pūjā, japa, or homa.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Shauca/Achamana & daily purification rites)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"At dawn, a practitioner faces east near a water source, cleaning teeth with a twig; afterward, he takes cleansing earth with specified fingers and applies it as prescribed before further rites.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, sunrise in the east, figure facing east holding dantakāṣṭha, water pot nearby, small heap of mṛd, hands showing finger positions, simple domestic courtyard","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-tinted sunrise halo, devotee with twig and water vessel, ornate border, emphasis on purity objects (kamandalu, lota), rich colors","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional depiction with clear hand gestures for taking mṛd, east-direction indicator, sequential panels for tooth-cleaning then cleansing-earth application","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, morning courtyard scene with garden, figure facing rising sun brushing with twig, attendant holding water pot, small bowl of earth, fine architectural detail"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Ahir Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: tasmādghoraśikhābhyām = tasmāt + ghoraśikhābhyām.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 78 (ācāra, śauca, pūjā prerequisites)
FAQs
It prescribes a specific shauca practice: tooth-cleaning facing east and the subsequent use of cleansing earth (mṛd) with designated fingers and directional placement as part of daily purification.
Beyond theology, it records practical dharma-shāstra style details—daily hygiene, directionality, and purification materials—showing the text’s coverage of ritual conduct alongside broader religious knowledge.
Observing prescribed cleanliness and direction-based rites is treated as a purifier (śuddhi), supporting ritual eligibility, reducing impurity (aśauca), and accruing merit through disciplined daily conduct.