Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 2
Chapter 228 — स्वप्नाध्यायः
Svapnādhāyaḥ / Chapter on Dreams
चूर्णं मूर्ध्नि कांस्यानां मुण्डनं नग्नता तथा मलिनाम्बरधारित्वमभ्यङ्गः पङ्कदिग्धता
cūrṇaṃ mūrdhni kāṃsyānāṃ muṇḍanaṃ nagnatā tathā malināmbaradhāritvamabhyaṅgaḥ paṅkadigdhatā
માથા પર ચૂર્ણ/ધૂળ/ભસ્મ ધારણ કરવું, કાંસ્યપાત્રોનો પરિગ્રહ, મુંડન, નગ્નતા, મલિન વસ્ત્ર ધારણ, દેહાભ્યંગ અને કાદવથી લિપ્ત રહેવું—આ બધું બાહ્ય આચાર-લક્ષણ તરીકે ગણાય છે।
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the standard Agni Purana narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Identifying outward marks of impurity/inauspicious observances to regulate social/ritual interaction and determine when expiation or avoidance is required.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Bāhya-lakṣaṇa of Aśauca/Amaṅgala (Outward marks of impure/inauspicious conduct)","lookup_keywords":["mūrdhni cūrṇa","muṇḍana","nagnatā","malināmbara","paṅka-digdha"],"quick_summary":"Enumerates visible conditions (ash/dust on head, shaved head, nakedness, soiled clothes, oiling, mud-smearing) treated as signs of impurity/inauspicious observance; useful for deciding ritual eligibility and social contact."}
Concept: Bāhya-ācāra as a marker of śauca/aśauca and amaṅgalatā in ritual society.
Application: Use these markers to pause worship/rites, seek purification, or avoid contaminating communal ritual spaces.
Khanda Section: Prayashchitta & Acharadharma (Expiations and marks of impure/inauspicious conduct)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A didactic tableau showing individuals with ash/dust on the head, a shaved-headed person, a naked ascetic-like figure, someone in soiled garments, a person being anointed with oil, and another smeared with mud—presented as ‘marks’ to be recognized by a householder/priest.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, temple-wall didactic scene, warm earthy palette, a Brahmin observer pointing to six figures: ash on head, shaved head, nakedness (modestly indicated), soiled cloth, oil anointing, mud-smeared body; flat decorative foliage border, traditional ornamentation","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf highlights on garments and ornaments, central seated dharma-ācārya holding palm-leaf manuscript, surrounding vignettes of the listed outward conditions, rich reds and greens, embossed gold detailing","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, fine linework and soft shading, instructional composition with labeled vignettes (ash, muṇḍana, nagnatā, malināmbara, abhyanga, paṅka-digdha), calm domestic/temple courtyard setting","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly observer and attendants in a courtyard, small narrative panels showing each condition, delicate textiles, muted pastels, precise facial features, minimal background architecture"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: मलिनाम्बरधारित्वमभ्यङ्गः → मलिन-अम्बर-धारित्वम् + अभ्यङ्गः (म् + अ → म); अन्यत्र स्पष्ट-सन्धि न्यून।
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Prāyaścitta-adhyāya sections on śauca/aśauca and āśrama-ācāra (chapter numbering varies by recension)
FAQs
It lists external markers/observances—such as head-shaving, nakedness, soiled clothing, anointing, and mud-smearing—used in dharma texts to classify states of impurity, abnormal observance, or inauspicious appearance for ritual eligibility.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purana catalogs practical dharma-lakṣaṇas—recognizable social/ritual indicators—supporting decision-making in rites (who may participate, what requires purification), reflecting its wide-ranging, handbook-like scope.
By identifying outward conditions associated with impurity or irregular observance, it helps practitioners avoid ritual faults (doṣa) and undertake appropriate purification, thereby protecting the merit (puṇya) of rites and daily religious duties.