Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 25
Chapter 34 — होमादिविधिः
The Procedure for Homa and Related Rites
प्रक्षाल्य हस्तौ रेखाश् च तिस्रः पूर्वाग्रगामिनीः चार्हणा इति ख, ङ, चिह्नितपुस्तकद्वयपाठः दूर्वाग्रमिति ङ, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः दक्षिणादुत्तराश् च तिस्रश् चैवओत्तराग्रगाः
prakṣālya hastau rekhāś ca tisraḥ pūrvāgragāminīḥ cārhaṇā iti kha, ṅa, cihnitapustakadvayapāṭhaḥ dūrvāgramiti ṅa, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ dakṣiṇāduttarāś ca tisraś caivaottarāgragāḥ
ಎರಡೂ ಕೈಗಳನ್ನು ತೊಳೆದು, ಅಗ್ರಭಾಗ ಪೂರ್ವದತ್ತ ಹೋಗುವಂತೆ ಮೂರು ರೇಖೆಗಳನ್ನು ಬರೆಯಬೇಕು. (ಕೆಲವು ಪಾಠಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ‘ಚಾರ್ಹಣಾ’ ಎಂದು, ಇನ್ನೊಂದರಲ್ಲಿ ‘ದೂರ್ವಾ ಅಗ್ರದಿಂದ’ ಎಂದು ಪಾಠಾಂತರವಿದೆ.) ಹಾಗೆಯೇ ದಕ್ಷಿಣದಿಂದ ಉತ್ತರದತ್ತ, ಅಗ್ರಭಾಗ ಉತ್ತರಾಭಿಮುಖವಾಗುವಂತೆ ಮೂರು ರೇಖೆಗಳನ್ನೂ ಬರೆಯಬೇಕು.
Lord Agni (in instruction to Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Ritual hand-preparation and directional marking: after washing hands, draw prescribed triads of lines oriented eastward and northward (with variant readings using cārhaṇā/dūrvā-tip), as part of nyāsa/mudrā/maṇḍala preliminaries.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Directional Rekhā-drawing on Hands (Triads Eastward and Northward)","lookup_keywords":["rekhā","hasta-śuddhi","dūrvā","nyāsa","dik-nirdeśa"],"quick_summary":"Wash the hands and draw three east-pointing lines and three south-to-north lines (tips northward), using the specified implement (variant: cārhaṇā or dūrvā-tip), to prepare for subsequent ritual acts."}
Concept: Ritual efficacy depends on precise bodily ‘coding’ (saṃskāra) and directional alignment; the hands become qualified instruments of offering.
Application: Standardize hand-prep: wash, then mark lines with the correct implement; keep consistency with one’s paddhati/manuscript tradition.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Ritual Procedure and Nyasa/Mudra Instructions)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Close view of washed hands; the practitioner draws three fine lines pointing east and three lines running south-to-north with tips northward, using a small grass tip (dūrvā) or ritual implement per variant reading.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized hands in foreground with thin rekhā marks, dūrvā grass held delicately, ritual vessels blurred behind, earthy tones, emphasis on sacred precision.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, ornate depiction of hands with gold-highlighted bangles and ritual thread, fine lines drawn on palms, dūrvā tip as tool, rich decorative border.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional close-up: arrows indicating east and north, three-line sets clearly shown, dūrvā/cārhaṇā implement rendered neatly, minimal background.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, naturalistic hands and grass tip, fine ink-like lines on skin, attendants and manuscripts in background hinting at variant readings, delicate shading."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: रेखाश् च → रेखाः च; संस्पृशेन्नरः-वत्: here no finite verb is explicitly present in the transmitted line; the verse contains editorial notes (पाठभेद) like ‘चार्हणा…’, ‘दूर्वाग्रमिति…’ which are not part of the metrical instruction and are omitted from pada-table. दक्षिणादुत्तराः → दक्षिणात् उत्तराः; चैवओत्तराग्रगाः → च एव उत्तराग्रगाः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 34 (nyāsa/mudrā and homa preliminaries)
FAQs
It teaches a precise worship-procedure: after washing the hands, the practitioner draws three directional lines on the hands—east-pointing lines and south-to-north (north-pointing) lines—using a specified ritual means (variantly read as cārhaṇā or the tip of durvā grass).
Beyond theology, it preserves highly technical, step-by-step liturgical micro-instructions (directionality, hand-rites, and permitted implements), showing the Agni Purāṇa’s compendium-like coverage of practical ritual technology alongside broader doctrines.
Hand-washing and prescribed markings function as ritual purification and correct ritual alignment (dik-sambandha), supporting the efficacy (siddhi) of worship by ensuring bodily and directional sanctity before subsequent mantras or offerings.