Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 40
Śāva-āśauca and Sūtikā-śauca: Death/Childbirth Impurity, Preta-śuddhi, and Śrāddha Procedure
Chapter 157
सिद्धार्थकैस्तिलैर् विद्वान् मज्जेद्वासोपरं दधत् अजातदन्ते तनये शिशौ गर्भस्रुते तथा
siddhārthakaistilair vidvān majjedvāsoparaṃ dadhat ajātadante tanaye śiśau garbhasrute tathā
विद्वान् व्यक्ति श्वेत सरसों (सिद्धार्थक) और तिल सहित जल में निमज्जन करके स्नान करे और फिर ऊपर का वस्त्र धारण करे; दाँत न निकले हुए पुत्र, शिशु तथा गर्भस्राव (गर्भपात/रक्तस्राव) में भी यही विधि है।
Lord Agni
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Ritual purification protocol for specific aśauca situations (infant/child without teeth, miscarriage), including bath substances and clothing change.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Śuddhi-snānāṅga: Siddhārthaka-tila-snāna in bāla/garbha-srāva aśauca","lookup_keywords":["siddhārthaka","tila","snāna","aśauca","garbha-srāva"],"quick_summary":"Prescribes immersion-bath using white mustard and sesame, followed by donning a fresh upper garment, as a purificatory measure in infant/child and miscarriage-related impurity contexts."}
Concept: Śauca (ritual purity) maintained through prescribed acts after liminal life-events (infancy, miscarriage).
Application: Follow community-accepted purification steps to restore eligibility for rites, worship, and social contact.
Khanda Section: Prāyaścitta & Śuddhi-vidhi (Ritual Expiations and Purificatory Rites)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A learned householder performs an immersion bath with mustard and sesame, then dons a clean upper cloth; nearby are domestic signs of an infant/child and the solemn context of miscarriage-related impurity.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat earthy palette, a brāhmaṇa figure at a water-tank performing snāna with siddhārthaka and tila, attendants holding fresh vastra, subdued karuṇa-śānta mood, traditional ornaments and simple household setting.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central figure bathing at a stylized pushkariṇī, rich textiles, gold-leaf highlights on the fresh upper garment and ritual vessels, minimal background, devotional-purity ambience.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, fine linework, instructional composition showing mustard seeds and sesame in a small bowl, stepwise depiction: immersion bath then changing upper cloth, calm domestic interior.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed courtyard with water basin, scholar bathing and changing cloth, naturalistic textiles, muted palette, narrative hints of infant cradle in background, solemn tone."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: मज्जेद्वासोपरम् → मज्जेत् + वासः + अपरम्; तिलैर् → तिलैः (विसर्ग-लोप).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 157 (śāvāśauca context); Agni Purana 158 (srāvādya-śauca continuation)
FAQs
It prescribes a specific śuddhi (purificatory) procedure—immersive bathing using sesame and white mustard, followed by donning an upper cloth—applicable to certain aśauca contexts involving infants or miscarriage.
It exemplifies the text’s dharma-śāstra style cataloguing of practical rites: precise materials (tila, siddhārthaka) and contexts (toothless child/infant/miscarriage), showing the Purana’s coverage beyond mythology into applied ritual law.
The act functions as prāyaścitta and śuddhi—removing ritual impurity (aśauca), restoring eligibility for worship and daily rites, and supporting dharmic order through prescribed purification.