Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 33
Pratiṣṭhā-sāmagrī-vidhāna — Prescription of Materials and Conditions for Consecration
पद्मषण्डाद्वराहाञ्च गोष्ठादपि चतुष्पथात् मृत्तिका द्वादश ग्राह्या वैकुण्ठेष्टौ पिनाकिनि
padmaṣaṇḍādvarāhāñca goṣṭhādapi catuṣpathāt mṛttikā dvādaśa grāhyā vaikuṇṭheṣṭau pinākini
D’un bosquet de lotus, d’un lieu associé à Varāha, d’un enclos à vaches, et aussi d’un carrefour à quatre voies—de tels sites purs prescrits—il faut recueillir douze parts de terre purificatrice, ô bien‑aimé de Vaikuṇṭha, ô porteur du Pināka (arc).
Lord Agni (narrating to sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s instructional dialogue)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","practical_application":"Collecting ritually pure earth (mṛttikā) from prescribed sites for purification, expiation, and preparatory rites.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Mṛttikā-grahaṇa (Collection of purificatory earth)","lookup_keywords":["mrittika","prayascitta","padma-shanda","goshtha","chatushpatha"],"quick_summary":"Specifies four pure collection sites and the quantity (twelve portions) of earth to be gathered for ritual purification/expiation contexts."}
Alamkara Type: Sambodhana (vocative address)
Concept: Śauca and prāyaścitta: purification is enacted through correctly sourced materials and rule-bound procedure.
Application: When performing expiation or preparatory rites, collect the specified mṛttikā in the prescribed count to maintain ritual validity.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Prāyaścitta (Ritual purification with mṛttikā)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Bhakti
Type: Sacred-site (ritual collection spots)
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual practitioner with a small pot and spoon collects earth from four locations: a lotus grove, a Varāha shrine/spot, a cow-pen, and a crossroads; twelve small measured portions are arranged on a leaf or plate.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, four-panel narrative: lotus pond grove, Varāha emblem shrine, cow-pen with gentle cows, crossroads with boundary stones; priest collecting mṛttikā into a kalasha; muted sacred palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central priest with gold-embossed kalasha and plate holding twelve mṛttikā portions, background vignettes of lotus grove and Varāha symbol, ornate gold borders, devotional ambience.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional four-scene layout with labels, precise depiction of measuring twelve portions, clean lines, soft colors, emphasis on ritual implements.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed landscape vignettes: lotus marsh, rustic cowshed, crossroads with travelers, small Varāha shrine; figure collecting earth with fine realism."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पद्मषण्डाद्वराहाञ्च → पद्मषण्डात् + वराहात् + च; गोष्ठादपि → गोष्ठात् + अपि.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 95 (prāyaścitta/mṛttikā context)
FAQs
It prescribes the approved sources and the required quantity (twelve portions) of mṛttikā (purificatory earth/clay) to be collected for ritual cleansing and related observances.
By codifying minute procedural details—where to source ritual materials and in what measure—it exemplifies the Agni Purāṇa’s practical handbook style alongside its theology, dharma, and worship-technology.
Using properly sourced mṛttikā is treated as a means of śauca (ritual purity), supporting the efficacy of worship and expiation by aligning the practitioner with prescribed purity norms.