Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 2
Pavitrāropaṇa-vidhāna
The Procedure for Installing the Pavitra
पूर्वाधिवासितं द्रव्यं वस्त्राभरणगन्धकं निरस्य सर्वनिर्माल्यं देवं संस्थाप्य पूजयेत्
pūrvādhivāsitaṃ dravyaṃ vastrābharaṇagandhakaṃ nirasya sarvanirmālyaṃ devaṃ saṃsthāpya pūjayet
पूर्व अधिवासन में प्रयुक्त वस्त्र, आभूषण और गन्ध-द्रव्य आदि को त्याग दे, तथा समस्त निर्माल्य (मुरझाए/उत्सृष्ट अर्पण) को हटा दे। फिर देवता को विधिवत स्थापित करके पूजा करे।
Lord Agni (in instruction to Sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Temple maintenance within pūjā: discard adhivāsita (previously consecrated/used) materials, remove nirmālya (withered offerings), then perform deva-saṃsthāpana (install/seat the deity) and proceed with worship.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Nirmālya-nirāsana and deva-saṃsthāpana before pūjā","lookup_keywords":["nirmālya","adhivāsita-dravya","deva-saṃsthāpana","vastra-ābharaṇa-gandha","pūjā-krama"],"quick_summary":"Before worship, clear away used consecration items and all withered remnants; then seat/install the deity properly and begin pūjā in a clean, renewed setting."}
Concept: Nitya-śauca in worship: the divine is approached through freshness, non-staleness, and respectful handling of consecrated remnants.
Application: Implement a ‘reset’ step before pūjā: clear old items, clean the space, re-seat the deity, then offer new upacāras.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Deva-pratishtha and Temple Ritual Procedure)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Inside the sanctum: attendants remove withered garlands and old offerings, discard previously used cloth/ornaments/fragrant items from the consecration rite, then the priest seats the deity on a clean āsana and begins fresh worship.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, sanctum interior with lamps, attendants respectfully collecting nirmālya into a basket, priest placing deity on clean pedestal/āsana, subdued sacred palette, emphasis on purity and order","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf on deity and lamps, removal of old garlands shown at side, priest re-seating deity with fresh cloth and ornaments ready, ornate pillars and rich colors","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style instructional temple scene, clear depiction of ‘discard used items’ and ‘remove nirmālya’ steps, then ‘saṃsthāpana’ on āsana, neat arrangement of vessels and offerings","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed shrine interior, attendants removing wilted flowers, priest arranging clean seat and beginning worship, fine architectural detail and delicate colorwork"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पूर्वाधिवासितं = पूर्व + अधिवासितम्; वस्त्राभरणगन्धकं = वस्त्र + आभरण + गन्धकम्; (समाहार-द्वन्द्व).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 36 (pavitra and temple pūjā sequence); Agni Purana 35 (pūjā preliminaries and pavitra context)
FAQs
It gives a practical rule in devapratishtha/puja-vidhi: remove/discard previously used consecration materials (cloth, ornaments, perfumes) and clear all nirmalya (spent offerings) before proceeding to installation and worship.
By codifying precise operational details of temple worship—what must be removed, what counts as ritual remnants, and the sequence of installation then worship—it preserves procedural knowledge alongside the Purana’s many other disciplines.
Removing nirmalya and previously used items emphasizes ritual purity and freshness of offerings, helping ensure the worship is free from impurity and negligence, and thereby considered properly meritorious.