Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 12
Vināyaka-snāna (The Vinayaka Bath) — Obstacle-Removal and Consecratory Bathing Rite
ललाटे कर्णयोरक्ष्णोरापस्तद्घ्नन्तु सर्वदा दर्भपिञ्जलिमादाय वामहस्ते ततो गुरुः
lalāṭe karṇayorakṣṇorāpastadghnantu sarvadā darbhapiñjalimādāya vāmahaste tato guruḥ
ललाट, कानों और नेत्रों पर—जल सदा उस दोष/अपवित्रता को नष्ट करे। फिर गुरु बाएँ हाथ में दर्भ-घास की पुञ्जी लेकर आगे की विधि करता है।
Lord Agni (narrating ritual procedure to Vasiṣṭha, per the common Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Apamārjana (warding-off) with water-mantra focused on forehead, ears, and eyes; followed by procedural step of holding darbha bundle in the left hand for continuing rites.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Āpaḥ-rakṣā for Lalāṭa–Karṇa–Akṣi and Darbha-grāhaṇa","lookup_keywords":["āpaḥ","lalāṭa","karṇa","akṣi","darbha"],"quick_summary":"Apply/gesture consecrated water for protection of key sense-organs, then take darbha in the left hand as the ritual implement for subsequent actions."}
Concept: Indriya-śuddhi and rakṣā as part of ritual fitness (adhikāra) for worship.
Application: Before mantra-japa/homa, perform water-warding on forehead/ears/eyes and maintain darbha as a purity-marker and ritual tool.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Ritual Purification and Protective Rites)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"The priest sprinkles or touches consecrated water to the forehead, ears, and eyes for protection, then holds a darbha bundle in the left hand to continue the rite.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, close-up ritual scene: priest sprinkling water with darbha, emphasis on forehead ears eyes, warm ochres and greens, stylized temple lamps, serene expressions","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-highlighted water vessel and darbha bundle, devotee’s face frontal with marked forehead, ornate frame, rich colors, sacred geometry motifs","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional clarity: priest’s left hand holding darbha, right hand sprinkling water, minimal background, soft gradients, precise depiction of facial points","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed facial features and gesture, small ewer of water, darbha bundle rendered as fine grass, patterned carpet, delicate border"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कर्णयोरक्ष्णोः = कर्णयोः + अक्ष्णोः; अक्ष्णोरापः = अक्ष्णोः + आपः; तद्घ्नन्तु = तत् + घ्नन्तु; दर्भपिञ्जलिमादाय = दर्भपिञ्जलिम् + आदाय.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 265 (āpaḥ-śuddhi and rakṣā steps; use of darbha/kuśa)
FAQs
It teaches a prokṣaṇa/rakṣā step: consecrated water is applied to key sense-organs (forehead, ears, eyes) for protection, while the officiant holds a darbha bundle as a ritual implement.
Beyond mythology, it preserves precise liturgical micro-instructions—how to perform purification and protective acts using standard Vedic materials (āpas, darbha) and the role of the guru—showing the text’s practical ritual handbook dimension.
Sprinkling/empowering the senses with purified water is framed as removing doṣa/inauspicious influence and establishing protective purity (śuddhi and rakṣā), supporting merit and readiness for worship.