Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 67
Chapter 78 — पवित्रारोहणकथनं
Pavitrārohaṇa: Installing the Sanctifying Thread/Garland
निर्गत्य वहिराचम्य गोमये मण्डलत्रये इति ख, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः भूतमातृगणेषु फडिति ङ, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः रुद्रेभ्यः क्षेत्रपालेभ्य इति ख, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः पूजयित्वा ततः शिवमिति ग, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः पूजयित्वाथ सञ्चरैर् इति ङ, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः पञ्चगव्यञ्चरुन्दन्तधावनञ्च क्रमाद् यजेत्
nirgatya vahirācamya gomaye maṇḍalatraye iti kha, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ bhūtamātṛgaṇeṣu phaḍiti ṅa, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ rudrebhyaḥ kṣetrapālebhya iti kha, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ pūjayitvā tataḥ śivamiti ga, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ pūjayitvātha sañcarair iti ṅa, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ pañcagavyañcarundantadhāvanañca kramād yajet
Après être sorti et avoir accompli l’ācamana (purification par gorgées rituelles), on doit tracer trois cercles rituels avec de la bouse de vache ; avec l’énoncé protecteur « phaṭ », on fait des offrandes aux troupes des Bhūtas et aux Mères ; puis aux Rudras et aux Kṣetrapālas (divinités gardiennes du lieu). Après ce culte, on vénère ensuite Śiva ; et, selon l’ordre prescrit, on offre le pañcagavya, l’oblation caru, et le danta-dhāvana (bâtonnets/rite de nettoyage des dents).
Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purana narrator) instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Protective and preparatory Śaiva rite: ācamana, cow-dung maṇḍalas, bali/offerings to bhūtas-mātṛgaṇas, rudras and kṣetrapālas with ‘phaṭ’, then sequential offerings (pañcagavya, caru, danta-dhāvana).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Śaiva Rakṣā-vidhi: Maṇḍala-traya, Phaṭ-offerings, and Pañcagavya Sequence","lookup_keywords":["achamana","gomaya-mandala","phat","kshetrapala","panchagavya"],"quick_summary":"Exit, purify by ācamana, draw three cow-dung circles, propitiate bhūtas/mātṛs and guardians with ‘phaṭ’, then worship Śiva and offer pañcagavya, caru, and danta-dhāvana in order for protection and ritual completeness."}
Concept: Ritual ecology of a Śaiva space: pacifying liminal forces (bhūtas, mātṛs, kṣetrapālas) before principal worship; purity and protection precede communion with Śiva.
Application: Before major pūjā/homa, perform boundary-setting (maṇḍala + guardian offerings) and personal purification (ācamana), then proceed to main deity worship.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Śaiva/Tantric ritual procedure and protective rites)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A priest steps outside, performs ācamana, draws three cow-dung circles on the ground, offers bali with the utterance ‘phaṭ’ to bhūtas and mātṛs, then to rudras and kṣetrapālas, and finally worships Śiva with pañcagavya and caru offerings; tooth-stick rite shown as concluding act.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, ritual courtyard scene: three gomaya maṇḍalas marked on earth, priest with water vessel doing ācamana, small bali offerings to fierce yet stylized bhūtas and mātṛkās at the periphery, kṣetrapāla guardians at gateways, central Śiva worship with lamps; bold outlines and traditional ornamentation.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central Śiva shrine with gold-leaf arch, priest in foreground drawing three circular maṇḍalas, small offering plates labeled pañcagavya and caru, guardian figures at sides, rich jewel tones and heavy gilding.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, diagrammatic clarity: three circles on ground, sequential panels showing offerings to bhūtas/mātṛs (with ‘phaṭ’), then rudras/kṣetrapālas, then Śiva; include tooth-stick (danta-dhāvana) as final step; fine lines and soft colors.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, outdoor temple precinct with detailed architecture, priest performing ācamana, attendants holding offering trays, three marked circles on ground, small guardian figures near gate, central shrine of Śiva; intricate textiles and naturalistic shading."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shree","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: vahिराचम्य = vahiḥ + ācamya; maṇḍalatraye = maṇḍala-traye (dvigu); bhūtamātṛgaṇeṣu treated as dvandva compound; kṣetrapālebhyaḥ = kṣetra-pālebhyaḥ; pañcagavyañcarundantadhāvanañca resolved as pañcagavyam + carum + danta-dhāvanam + ca. Editorial notes like 'cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ' and letter markers (kha/ga/ṅa) omitted from pada list as non-verse apparatus.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 78 (pavitra/puja-vidhi sequence); Agni Purana 79 (pavitra rites and mandapa procedures)
FAQs
It teaches a sequential Śaiva ritual: purification (ācamana), drawing three cow-dung maṇḍalas, apotropaic offerings to Bhūtas/Mothers with “phaṭ,” propitiation of Rudras and Kṣetrapālas, then Śiva-pūjā, followed by pañcagavya, caru oblation, and the danta-dhāvana rite.
It preserves granular procedural liturgy—mantra-usage, guardian-deity appeasement, purity substances (pañcagavya), and fire-oblation (caru)—showing the Agni Purana as a practical handbook for temple/household worship rather than only narrative theology.
The sequence emphasizes śuddhi (purity) and rakṣā (protection): pacifying liminal beings (Bhūtas, Mātṛs) and guardians (Kṣetrapālas) removes obstacles, while pañcagavya and oblations support ritual fitness and merit for successful Śiva-worship.