Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 6
Chapter 41 — शिलाविन्यासविधानं
The Procedure for Laying the Stones / Foundation Setting
हिरण्यव्रीहिसंयुक्तैर् गन्धचन्दनचर्चितैः आपो हि ष्ठेति तिसृभिः शन्नो देवीति चाप्यथ
hiraṇyavrīhisaṃyuktair gandhacandanacarcitaiḥ āpo hi ṣṭheti tisṛbhiḥ śanno devīti cāpyatha
फिर स्वर्ण और धान्यकणों से मिश्रित, तथा गन्ध और चन्दनलेप से सुशोभित जल से, “आपो हि ष्ठा…” से आरम्भ होने वाले तीन मन्त्रों का और “शं नो देवी…” मन्त्र का भी उच्चारण करते हुए कर्म करे।
Lord Agni (in dialogue with sage Vasiṣṭha, as the primary narrator of Agni Purana)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Mantra-prayoga for water consecration using hiraṇya (gold) and vrīhi (rice) with gandha and candana, reciting Āpo hi ṣṭhā (three ṛks) and Śaṃ no devī.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Mantra","entry_title":"Āpo hi ṣṭhā (tisraḥ) and Śaṃ no devī: jala-śuddhi with hiraṇya-vrīhi","lookup_keywords":["Āpo hi ṣṭhā","Śaṃ no devī","hiraṇya","vrīhi","jala-śuddhi"],"quick_summary":"Consecrate water by mixing symbolic purifiers (gold, rice) and applying fragrance/sandalpaste, while reciting the specified Vedic mantras for sanctification and auspiciousness."}
Dosha: Pitta
Concept: Mantra and dravya together effect saṃskāra—sound (śabda) and substance (dravya) cooperate in ritual purification.
Application: Use correct mantra sequence and clean symbolic additives to standardize consecration of water for prokṣaṇa/abhiṣeka.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Ritual Procedures and Mantra-prayoga)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Priest consecrating a water vessel: adding gold and rice grains, smearing sandalpaste, wafting fragrance, reciting Vedic mantras over the kumbha.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: close-up of kalaśa with floating rice grains and a small gold piece, priest’s hand applying candana, stylized mantra scroll motif, warm ochres and greens, sanctum lamp glow.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: central gleaming kalaśa with gold foil emphasis, priest in devotional posture chanting, rice grains rendered as pearls, ornate border and arch, rich reds and greens.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: instructional composition showing steps—gold, rice, fragrance, sandal—arranged neatly beside the vessel; priest chanting; fine detailing and soft palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: meticulous depiction of gold, rice, and sandal bowl; priest chanting with attendants; patterned carpet; delicate calligraphic cartouche hinting at mantra incipits."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: संयुक्तैर् = संयुक्तैः (visarga sandhi before g-); शन्नो = शम् + नः; ष्ठेति = ष्ठ + इति (mantra quotation).
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Puja-vidhi mantra-prayoga for prokṣaṇa, kalaśa-saṃskāra, and abhiṣeka
FAQs
It gives a specific mantra-prayoga for snāna/abhiṣeka: prepare ritually potent water by mixing gold and rice and anointing it with fragrance and sandalpaste, then recite the three “Āpo hi ṣṭhā” verses along with “Śaṃ no devī” for purification and auspicious consecration.
It preserves practical liturgical detail—materials (gold, rice, sandal), procedure (preparing consecrated water), and precise Vedic mantra-citations—showing the Agni Purana’s role as a manual that compiles ritual technology alongside broader dharma and worship systems.
Consecrated-water bathing with these mantras is intended to remove impurity (mala), invoke auspicious welfare (śam), and ritually qualify the practitioner or the deity-image for worship, thereby supporting merit (puṇya) and inner/outer purification.