Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 19
Chapter 92 — प्रतिष्ठाविधिकथनम्
Narration of the Consecration / Installation Procedure
अर्घ्यदानमिदं प्रोक्तं तत्र कुम्भपरिब्रमात् इत्थं परिग्रहं भूमेः कुर्वीत तदनन्तरं
arghyadānamidaṃ proktaṃ tatra kumbhaparibramāt itthaṃ parigrahaṃ bhūmeḥ kurvīta tadanantaraṃ
Cette offrande d’arghya a été enseignée en ce lieu ; après avoir tourné autour du vase d’eau (kumbha), il doit ensuite accomplir, de cette manière, le rite de prise de possession du sol (parigraha) aussitôt après.
Lord Agni (in dialogue, instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Standardized sequence for arghya-offering around a kumbha followed by ritual ‘taking possession’/formal claiming of the ground for worship or construction.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Arghya-dāna with kumbha-paribhrama and bhū-parigraha","lookup_keywords":["arghya-dāna","kumbha-paribhrama","bhū-parigraha","pūjā-vidhi","tīrtha-kriyā"],"quick_summary":"Offer arghya as prescribed, circumambulate the kumbha, then immediately perform the formal parigraha of the ground to establish ritual jurisdiction over the site."}
Concept: Saṃskāra of space: offerings and circumambulation precede legitimate appropriation/authorization of a ritual field.
Application: Before commencing major rites (pūjā, homa, installation), formalize the site through arghya and bhū-parigraha to avoid ritual defect (doṣa).
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Dāna & Snāna-vidhi / Tīrtha-kriyā and ritual offerings)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Type: Sacred-Site
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A worshipper offers arghya, then circles a decorated water-pot (kumbha) and performs a formal gesture of claiming/consecrating the ground.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, central kumbha with mango leaves and coconut, priest offering arghya with cupped hands, circular movement indicated, ground marked with simple yantra-like lines, subdued temple palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, ornate kumbha with gold work, arghya vessel shimmering, priest and assistants, lotus motifs on the floor indicating bhū-parigraha, rich jewel tones.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional composition: arghya offering in foreground, kumbha-paribhrama shown with repeated figure positions, then bhū-parigraha gesture (touching earth), fine detailing.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly ritual setting with a kumbha on a low pedestal, figure circling it, attendants holding trays, patterned carpet representing the consecrated ground."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shuddha Saveri","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अर्घ्यदानमिदं = अर्घ्यदानम् + इदम् (म् + इ → मि). तदनन्तरं = तत् + अनन्तरम् (त् + अ → द + अ by sandhi in recitation).
Related Themes: Agni Purana sections on kumbha-sthāpana, arghya-lakṣaṇa, and kṣetra-saṃskāra; Agni Purana Puja-vidhi on parikrama and dāna-vidhi
FAQs
It specifies the sequence in a rite: offer arghya, circumambulate the ritual kumbha, and then perform bhū-parigraha—formally and ritually taking/sanctifying the ground as part of the procedure.
It preserves a precise ritual workflow (arghya → kumbha-parikrama → bhūmi-parigraha), showing the Agni Purana functioning as a practical manual of ceremonial protocol alongside its many other disciplines.
By correctly sequencing arghya and kumbha-circumambulation before bhūmi-parigraha, the practitioner ritually purifies and legitimizes the space, aligning the act with dharma and enhancing the merit (puṇya) of the ceremony performed on that ground.