Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 67
Adhivāsana-vidhi
Procedure for Preliminary Consecration in Vāstu–Pratiṣṭhā / Īśāna-kalpa
स्नापयेत् पञ्चगव्येन पञ्चामृतपुरःसरं च पुष्पावरोधनं दत्वा कुर्यान्निर्मन्थनादिकमिति ज स्पृष्ट्वा च रोचनां दत्वा कुर्यान्निर्मञ्जनादिकमिति ङ गुरुमूर्तिर्यवैर् इति ख , ङ , ज च ततो मृण्मयगोमूत्रभस्मभिरिति ग स्नापयेदित्यर्धश्लोको छ पुस्तके नास्ति विरूक्षणं कषायैश् च सर्वौषधिजलेन वा
snāpayet pañcagavyena pañcāmṛtapuraḥsaraṃ ca puṣpāvarodhanaṃ datvā kuryānnirmanthanādikamiti ja spṛṣṭvā ca rocanāṃ datvā kuryānnirmañjanādikamiti ṅa gurumūrtiryavair iti kha , ṅa , ja ca tato mṛṇmayagomūtrabhasmabhiriti ga snāpayedityardhaśloko cha pustake nāsti virūkṣaṇaṃ kaṣāyaiś ca sarvauṣadhijalena vā
On doit baigner (la divinité/l’objet rituel) avec le pañcagavya, précédé du pañcāmṛta. Après avoir offert un recouvrement ou un encerclage de fleurs, on accomplira les rites commençant par le nirmanthana (barattage/agitement) et autres. Puis, après avoir touché (l’icône) et appliqué la rocanā, on accomplira les rites commençant par le nirmañjana (frottement/nettoyage) et autres. Ensuite, la purification peut se faire avec argile, urine de vache et cendre; et l’on peut aussi pratiquer une aspersion asséchante avec des décoctions, ou avec de l’eau infusée de toutes les plantes médicinales. (Des variantes manuscrites sont signalées; un demi-vers manque dans une recension.)
Lord Agni (in dialogue tradition, narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","secondary_vidya":"Ayurveda","practical_application":"Abhiṣeka/śuddhi sequence for deity or ritual object: pañcāmṛta then pañcagavya, floral enclosure, churning-related rite, rocanā application, rubbing/cleansing, followed by optional drying/sprinkling with kaṣāya or sarvauṣadhi-jala; includes awareness of manuscript variants.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Abhiṣeka Sequence: Pañcāmṛta–Pañcagavya, Rocanā, Nirmañjana, and Kaṣāya/Sarvauṣadhi-jala","lookup_keywords":["pañcāmṛta","pañcagavya","rocanā","kaṣāya","sarvauṣadhi-jala"],"quick_summary":"Perform consecratory bathing with pañcāmṛta followed by pañcagavya, then rocanā and cleansing rites; optionally finish with decoction-sprinkling or water infused with many medicinal herbs for intensified purification."}
Concept: Layered purification: progressively subtler media (amṛta-like, gavya, pigments, herbal waters) refine the ritual field and the practitioner’s attention.
Application: When performing abhiṣeka, follow a stable order (sweet/nectar → purificatory → anointment → cleansing → herbal finish) to avoid ritual confusion.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Snana, Abhisheka, and Deity Purification Rites)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A deity icon is bathed in sequence: first pañcāmṛta, then pañcagavya; flowers form a protective ring; attendants apply yellow rocanā and wipe/clean; final sprinkling with herbal decoction water.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, central shrine icon with multiple attendants pouring from conch and kalasha, floral ring around pedestal, yellow rocanā applied, herbal leaves floating in water, rhythmic layered bands","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, richly adorned deity, multiple abhiṣeka streams, gold highlights on vessels, thick floral garlands forming an enclosure, rocanā anointment shown as golden-yellow smear","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, stepwise instructional panel: pañcāmṛta vessels, pañcagavya pot, rocanā bowl, wiping cloth, kaṣāya pot with herbs, clean architectural lines of abhiṣeka-maṇḍapa","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed ritual workshop with priests, labeled pots, careful depiction of pouring and wiping, botanical detail for herbs, architectural depth"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कुर्यान्निर्मन्थनादिकम् = कुर्यात् + निर्मन्थनादिकम्; कुर्यान्निर्मञ्जनादिकम् = कुर्यात् + निर्मञ्जनादिकम्. Verse contains editorial/variant notes (ja/ṅa/kha/ga, etc.) which are excluded from pada analysis.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 96 (snāna/abhisheka sub-sections; nirmañjana; rocanā)
FAQs
It prescribes a sequential abhiṣeka and śuddhi protocol: pañcāmṛta first, then pañcagavya bathing, followed by specific follow-up rites (nirmanthana/nirmañjana), with optional purification using clay, cow-urine, ash, and finally ‘drying’ sprinkling via herbal decoctions or sarvauṣadhi-infused water.
It combines liturgical procedure (abhisheka sequencing), material culture (specific substances like rocanā, bhasma, gomūtra), and proto-medicinal/ayurvedic overlap (sarvauṣadhi-jala, kaṣāya) while also preserving textual criticism notes (manuscript variants), reflecting the Agni Purana’s multi-domain compendium style.
The instruction frames purity as both material and devotional: sanctified substances (pañcāmṛta/pañcagavya) and cleansing acts remove ritual impurity, making the worship fit for divine presence and thereby supporting merit (puṇya) through correct, orderly performance of pūjā.