Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 44
अधिवासनं नाम निर्वाणदीक्षायाम्
Adhivāsana in the Nirvāṇa-dīkṣā
अन्ययोनिषु सर्वासु देहशुद्धिं हृदा चरेत् नात्र पुंसवनं स्त्र्यादिशरीरस्यापि सम्भवात्
anyayoniṣu sarvāsu dehaśuddhiṃ hṛdā caret nātra puṃsavanaṃ stryādiśarīrasyāpi sambhavāt
Dans tous les autres yoni (non humains), on doit accomplir la purification du corps par l’esprit (intérieurement). Ici, le rite de puṃsavana n’est pas applicable, car il peut advenir même un corps féminin (ou d’une autre sorte).
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the standard Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Guidance on when prenatal rite (puṃsavana) is applicable and when only mental purification is prescribed, especially regarding non-human womb contexts.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Non-applicability of Puṃsavana in Non-human Wombs; Mental Deha-śuddhi","lookup_keywords":["puṃsavana","deha-śuddhi","hṛdā","yoni","garbha-saṃskāra"],"quick_summary":"For births in other womb-categories, perform inward/mental purification rather than puṃsavana, since sex and embodiment outcomes are not governed by the same domestic-rite assumptions."}
Concept: Adhikāra (eligibility) governs ritual application; where conditions differ, inward purification substitutes for outward saṃskāra.
Application: Apply rites context-sensitively: do not force a saṃskāra where its presuppositions (human domestic lineage framework) do not hold; use mānasa-śuddhi as the minimal dharmic act.
Khanda Section: Garbha-saṃskāra & Śarīra-śuddhi (Ritual Purification and Prenatal Rites)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A contemplative practitioner performs inward purification (hand on heart) rather than external rite, with symbolic depiction of various womb-forms in the background to indicate ‘other yonis’.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, central figure touching heart in meditation, surrounding symbolic animal forms in circular border, minimal altar, emphasis on inner light at the heart-lotus","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, seated figure with gold aura at heart, ornate frame, symbolic medallions showing different womb-forms, devotional stillness, gold highlights on heart-lotus","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean didactic composition: practitioner in dhyāna with hand at heart labeled ‘hṛdā śuddhi’, side panels showing ‘puṃsavana not applied’, soft palette","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholar-priest in quiet chamber, subtle depiction of animals in marginalia to signify other yonis, refined calligraphy panel noting ‘dehaśuddhi hṛdā’"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अन्ययोनिषु = अन्य-योनिषु; देहशुद्धिं = देह-शुद्धिम्; नात्र = न + अत्र; स्त्र्यादिशरीरस्यापि = स्त्री-आदि-शरीरस्य + अपि
Related Themes: Agni Purana 84 (garbha-saṃskāra and śarīra-śuddhi section)
FAQs
It distinguishes applicability of the puṃsavana prenatal rite: for non-human births (anyayoni), purification is prescribed as an inward/mental practice (hṛdā), and the specific puṃsavana procedure is not to be performed.
It functions like a compact dharma/ritual manual by giving conditional rules (when a saṃskāra applies or does not), showing the text’s coverage of practical saṃskāra-vidhi alongside broader theology and lore.
It emphasizes appropriate, context-sensitive śuddhi: when a rite aimed at producing a male offspring is uncertain or inapplicable, inward purification is still meritorious and aligns practice with dharma rather than mechanical ritualism.