Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 5
Chapter 22 — स्नानविधिकथनं
Instruction on the Rite of Bathing
कृत्वाघमर्षणं वस्त्रं परिधाय समाचरेत् विन्यस्य मन्त्रैर् द्विर्मार्ज्य पाणिस्थं जलमेव च
kṛtvāghamarṣaṇaṃ vastraṃ paridhāya samācaret vinyasya mantrair dvirmārjya pāṇisthaṃ jalameva ca
અઘમર્ષણ કરીને વસ્ત્ર ધારણ કરી આચરણ કરવું. પછી મંત્રોથી ન્યાસ કરીને, હથેળીમાં રહેલા જળનું પણ બે વાર માર્જન કરીને શુદ્ધિ કરવી.
Lord Agni (instructional narration to the sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Aghamarṣaṇa + śauca protocol: don clean cloth, perform mantra-nyāsa, and double-purify palm-water for ācamana/prāyaścitta-oriented readiness.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Aghamarṣaṇa, Vastra-dhāraṇa, Nyāsa, and Dvi-mārjana of Pāṇi-jala","lookup_keywords":["Aghamarshana","nyasa","acamana water","dvi marjana","śauca"],"quick_summary":"After Aghamarṣaṇa and donning clean cloth, perform mantra-nyāsa and purify the water in the palm twice before use in ācamana/rites."}
Concept: Ritual purity is enacted through prescribed acts (kriyā) and mantra; inner and outer śauca are coordinated.
Application: Use Aghamarṣaṇa as a reset/atonement; ensure clean clothing and mantra-empowered water before proceeding.
Khanda Section: Pūjā-vidhi (Śauca & Ācamana / Prāyaścitta-oriented ritual procedure)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A practitioner completes Aghamarṣaṇa, puts on a clean garment, performs nyāsa with mantras, and twice wipes/purifies water held in the palm for ācamana.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, priest near water pot, wearing fresh white cloth, right palm holding water, left hand performing mārjana gesture twice, subtle mantra scroll motifs, temple lamp in background.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, devotee in clean vastra, ornate border, holding palm-water, performing nyāsa gestures; gold accents on vessels and ritual tray.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, stepwise depiction: aghamarṣaṇa posture, changing into clean cloth, nyāsa on body points, then dvi-mārjana of palm-water; clear didactic composition.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate ritual scene with fine utensils, devotee seated on carpet, washing hands, holding water in palm, performing precise wiping gesture twice; detailed textiles and metalwork."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कृत्वाघमर्षणम् = कृत्वा + अघमर्षणम्. मन्त्रैर् = मन्त्रैः (visarga sandhi). पाणिस्थम् = पाणि-स्थम्. जलमेव = जलम् + एव.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Puja-vidhi passages on ācamana, aghamarṣaṇa, and nyāsa (same khanda)
FAQs
It teaches a precise śauca sequence: perform Aghamarṣaṇa, don clean cloth, do mantra-nyāsa, and ritually cleanse (wipe) the palm-held water twice before proceeding with further rites such as ācamana or pūjā.
Beyond mythology, the Agni Purāṇa preserves step-by-step liturgical technique—mantra application (nyāsa), bodily/ritual cleanliness (śauca), and handling of consecrated water—showing its practical manual-like coverage of daily and ceremonial religion.
Aghamarṣaṇa is explicitly sin-dispelling; pairing it with mantra-nyāsa and careful purification of the water used in rites ensures inner and outer cleanliness, supporting karmic purification and eligibility for worship.