Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 7
Chapter 156 — द्रव्यशुद्धिः (Dravya-śuddhi) / Purification of Substances
शुद्धिः सम्प्रोक्षणाज् ज्ञेया पलालेन्धनयोस् तथा शुद्धार्थकानाङ्कल्केन शृङ्गदन्तमयस्य च
śuddhiḥ samprokṣaṇāj jñeyā palālendhanayos tathā śuddhārthakānāṅkalkena śṛṅgadantamayasya ca
शुद्धि सम्प्रोक्षण (अभिमंत्रित जल के छिड़काव) से समझनी चाहिए; भूसा/पलाल और ईंधन (लकड़ी) के लिए भी यही है। तथा शृंग या दाँत (हाथीदाँत) से बनी वस्तुओं की शुद्धि, शुद्ध्यर्थ द्रव्यों के कल्क (लेप/अवशेष) से रगड़कर होती है।
Lord Agni (narrating Agni Purana’s ritual regulations)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Determining purification methods for specific materials (straw, firewood, horn/ivory) used in ritual contexts or household use.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Śuddhi of Straw/Firewood by Prokṣaṇa; Horn/Tooth by Kalkā-Rubbing","lookup_keywords":["palāla","indhana","śṛṅga","danta","kalkā"],"quick_summary":"Straw/chaff and firewood are purified by sprinkling. Items made of horn or tooth are purified by rubbing with cleansing sediment/paste (kalkā) prepared from purificatory substances."}
Concept: Material-specific śuddhi: different substances require different purificatory actions (water-contact vs abrasive cleansing).
Application: When preparing ritual fuel or implements, choose sprinkling for porous plant materials and kalkā-rubbing for dense animal-derived materials.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Shaucha-vidhi (Ritual Purification and Rules of Purity)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A priest sprinkles water over bundles of straw and stacked firewood; beside him, an artisan rubs an ivory/horn object with a cleansing paste/sediment (kalkā) in a small bowl.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, two attendants: one holding palāla and indhana while priest sprinkles; another polishing horn/ivory with pale kalkā paste, strong contours, ritual courtyard setting.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, gold-highlighted water pot and bowl of kalkā, stylized straw bundles and firewood, ornate frame, devotional yet practical scene.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic split-scene: prokṣaṇa on palāla/indhana; kalkā-rubbing on śṛṅga/danta object, fine linework, soft colors, clear object depiction.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature workshop-courtyard, detailed textures of straw and wood, artisan polishing ivory, priest sprinkling water, delicate brushwork and patterned textiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shuddha Saveri","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सम्प्रोक्षणाज् = सम्प्रोक्षणात् (त्→ज् before voiced consonant); पलालेन्धनयोस् = पलाल + इन्धनयोः; शुद्धार्थकानाङ्कल्केन = शुद्धार्थकानाम् + अङ्कल्केन.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 156 (dravya-śuddhi gradations)
FAQs
It prescribes specific shuddhi methods: sprinkling (samprokṣaṇa) for straw/chaff and firewood, and rubbing with cleansing-agent sediment (kalkā) for items made of horn or tooth/ivory.
It records practical, item-specific purity rules—showing the text’s coverage of applied ritual law (shaucha/dharma) alongside its many other domains, functioning as a procedural handbook for domestic and temple contexts.
Observing correct purification removes ritual impurity (aśauca) and safeguards the validity of worship and offerings, supporting dharmic conduct and the merit (puṇya) of rites performed with clean, properly purified materials.