Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 26
Chapter 92 — प्रतिष्ठाविधिकथनम्
Narration of the Consecration / Installation Procedure
हवर्गे रजतं तद्वदवर्गाच्चानर्थकरानपि प्रीक्ष्यात्मभिः करापूरैर् अष्टाङ्गुलमृदन्तरैः
havarge rajataṃ tadvadavargāccānarthakarānapi prīkṣyātmabhiḥ karāpūrair aṣṭāṅgulamṛdantaraiḥ
Dans le ha‑varga, on place l’argent (rajata). De même, à partir de l’a‑varga, même les substances/minerais nuisibles doivent être examinés de ses propres mains (expérimentées) : en frottant et en éprouvant avec des doigts nets et lumineux comme le camphre, et en les essayant au moyen d’une motte de terre/argile d’une épaisseur de huit doigts (aṣṭāṅgula).
Lord Agni (instructing Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Assaying and quality-control of metals/ores (notably silver) and identifying harmful materials through tactile/rubbing tests and a standardized clay measure.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Rajataparīkṣā and harmful-ore screening by touch/rubbing and clay measure","lookup_keywords":["ha-varga rajata","dhātu-parīkṣā","anarthakara","karapūra-sadṛśa","aṣṭāṅgula mṛt"],"quick_summary":"Silver is indexed under the ha-group; metals/ores—including harmful ones—should be examined directly by experienced hands via rubbing/brightness and by a standardized eight-aṅgula-thick clay/lump test for practical assay."}
Concept: Pramāṇa by direct examination (hands-on testing) is essential in applied sciences; classification must be paired with verification.
Application: Adopt simple field tests (rubbing, tactile inspection, standardized measures) before accepting metals for ritual, craft, or trade.
Khanda Section: Ratna-pariksha & Dhatu-pariksha (Gem/Metal Assay; Material Science in Agni Purana)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A metallurgist tests silver and other ores by rubbing them with clean bright fingers and comparing against a measured eight-finger-thick clay lump, sorting safe vs harmful samples.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, artisan with trays of ores, rubbing a silver piece between fingers, a clearly marked clay block of eight-aṅgula thickness, assistants labeling samples, strong earthy palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold glints on silver ingot, artisan’s hands emphasized, clay measure rendered prominently, ornate border suggesting a ‘manual’ panel of ratna-dhātu testing.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, step-by-step assay depiction: rubbing test, inspection under light, measuring clay thickness with finger-breadths, neat workshop with tools and labeled containers.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed bazaar/workshop scene, assayer examining silver, scribe recording results, realistic textures of metal and clay, fine architectural background."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अवर्गाच्च = अवर्गात् + च; चानर्थकरानपि = च + अनर्थकरान् + अपि; प्रीक्ष्यात्मभिः = प्रीक्ष्य + आत्मभिः; करापूरैर् = कर + अपूरैः; अष्टाङ्गुलमृदन्तरैः = अष्ट + अङ्गुल + मृद् + अन्तरैः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 92.24-92.25 (varga indexing; material assignments)
FAQs
It teaches a practical assay rule: silver is categorized in a specific varga (ha-varga), and potentially harmful ores/substances should be personally tested using tactile rubbing/handling and a standardized clay/earth measure (eight aṅgulas) as an assay medium.
Beyond theology, the text preserves applied knowledge—classification and testing of metals/ores—showing the Purana’s wide scope across economics, craft sciences, and technical verification methods.
Careful examination prevents harm and loss (anartha), aligning action with dharma: responsible use of materials avoids deceit, waste, and injury—ethical outcomes that Purāṇas treat as karmically consequential.