Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 5
Chapter 78 — पवित्रारोहणकथनं
Pavitrārohaṇa: Installing the Sanctifying Thread/Garland
कलौ कार्पासजं चापि पट्टपद्मादिसूत्रकं प्रणवश् चन्द्रमा वह्निर्ब्रह्मा नागो गुहो हरिः
kalau kārpāsajaṃ cāpi paṭṭapadmādisūtrakaṃ praṇavaś candramā vahnirbrahmā nāgo guho hariḥ
Dans l’âge de Kali, le (fil sacré) peut aussi être fait de coton ; il peut également être tissé de soie, de fibre de lotus et d’autres fils. (Les désignations divines employées sont :) Praṇava (Oṃ), la Lune, le Feu, Brahmā, le Nāga, Guha (Kārttikeya) et Hari (Viṣṇu).
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purāṇa frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Choose acceptable pavitra thread materials in Kali-yuga and apply correct divine ‘saṅketa’/name-mantra mapping during worship and installation rites.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Kali-yuga pavitra thread materials and devatā-saṅketas","lookup_keywords":["kalau kārpāsa","paṭṭa sūtra","padma-sūtra","praṇava saṅketa","deva-nāma mapping"],"quick_summary":"In Kali-yuga, pavitra threads may be cotton, silk, lotus-fibre, etc. The verse also lists key divine designations (saṅketas)—Oṃ, Moon, Fire, Brahmā, Nāga, Guha, Hari—used in mantra-identification within the rite."}
Concept: Yuga-adaptation (anukalpa) in ritual materials while preserving mantra-identity through saṅketa; substance may vary, intention and mantra-structure remain constant.
Application: When traditional materials are unavailable, substitute permitted fibres (cotton/silk/lotus) and maintain correct mantra-saṅketa recitation to preserve ritual integrity.
Khanda Section: Nāma-mantra & Devatā-saṅketas (Pūjā-vidhi / Mantra-śāstra)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A tray displays different threads—cotton, silk, lotus-fibre—beside a ritual altar; above, symbolic emblems label the saṅketas: Oṃ, moon-disc, fire-flame, Brahmā, nāga, Skanda/Guha, and Viṣṇu/Hari.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, close-up ritual still-life: spools of cotton and silk, lotus fibres, priest’s hands preparing a pavitra thread, symbolic icons (Oṃ, moon, flame, nāga) in stylized medallions, warm lamp-lit palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, ornate altar with gold foil, pavitra thread garland highlighted, small gold medallions showing Oṃ, moon, fire, Brahmā, nāga, Guha, Hari; rich reds/greens and heavy ornamentation.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional layout with neatly arranged thread samples and labeled saṅketa symbols, delicate linework, soft colors, emphasis on clarity and ritual tools.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, artisan and priest selecting threads from a box of textiles, manuscript margin showing saṅketa emblems, fine detailing of fibres and patterns, subdued elegant palette."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चापि→च अपि; वह्निर्ब्रह्मा→वह्निः ब्रह्मा (visarga sandhi); paṭṭapadmādisūtrakaṃ→paṭṭa-padma-ādi-sūtrakam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 78 (pavitra materials/mantras in adjacent verses)
FAQs
It gives a Kali-yuga allowance for acceptable yajñopavīta (sacred-thread) materials—cotton, silk, lotus-fibre, etc.—and lists key devatā-designations (Praṇava, Chandra, Agni, Brahmā, Nāga, Guha, Hari) used as sacred names in ritual contexts.
It combines practical dharma/ritual regulation (permitted materials by era) with mantra-theology (standard divine epithets), illustrating how the Agni Purāṇa catalogs both procedural ritual details and doctrinal name-lists side by side.
By permitting alternative pure materials in Kali-yuga, the text preserves continuity of Vedic-ritual identity and purity when ideal resources are scarce, supporting lawful practice and the intended merit (puṇya) of rites performed with proper symbols and divine remembrance.