Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 3
Chapter 246 — वास्तुलक्षणम्
Characteristics of Building-sites / Vāstu
कुशैः शरैस् तथाकाशैर् दूर्वाभिर्या च संश्रिता प्रार्च्य विप्रांश् च शिःशल्पां खातपूर्वन्तु कल्पयेत्
kuśaiḥ śarais tathākāśair dūrvābhiryā ca saṃśritā prārcya viprāṃś ca śiḥśalpāṃ khātapūrvantu kalpayet
ಕುಶ, ಶರಗಳು, ಆಕಾಶ-ಸಸ್ಯ ಮತ್ತು ದೂರ್ವಾ ಇತ್ಯಾದಿ ವಿಧಿವಿಹಿತ ದ್ರವ್ಯಗಳಿಂದ ಸಮ್ಯಕ್ ಪೂಜೆ ಮಾಡಿ, ನಂತರ ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಣರನ್ನು ಗೌರವಿಸಬೇಕು; ಆಮೇಲೆ ತೋಡಿಕೆಯಿಂದ ಆರಂಭವಾಗುವ ‘ಶಿಃಶಲ್ಪ’ ವಿಧಿಯನ್ನು ನೆರವೇರಿಸಬೇಕು.
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Performing a śānti/pujā sequence for site-purification: offering specified grasses/plants, honoring brāhmaṇas, and beginning the rite with ritual digging (khaṭa/kuṇḍa preparation).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Śiḥśalpa rite: pūjā with kuśa, śara, ākāśa-plant, and dūrvā; brāhmaṇa-satkāra; initial digging","lookup_keywords":["pūjā-vidhi","kuśa","dūrvā","śānti-kalpa","khaṭa-khanana"],"quick_summary":"Prescribes a ritual sequence: worship using specific vegetal offerings, then honor brāhmaṇas, and commence the śiḥśalpa rite starting with digging the designated spot/pit. Used for pacifying obstacles before construction or consecratory acts."}
Concept: Ritual correctness (vidhi) and honoring the learned as means to remove impediments (vighna-śānti) before worldly undertakings.
Application: Before beginning building or major work, perform a brief śānti: offer auspicious grasses, feed/honor brāhmaṇas, then start excavation with sanctified intent.
Khanda Section: Pūjā-vidhi (Ritual Worship Procedures / Śānti-kalpa)
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Ritual at a construction site: priest offers kuśa, dūrvā, and other plants; brāhmaṇas seated to be honored; workers begin digging a marked square pit while mantras are recited.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: temple-site śānti scene; priest with kuśa bundle and dūrvā garland, offering into a small pit; brāhmaṇas in white seated receiving honor; earthy background, bold outlines, ritual implements clearly shown.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: richly adorned ritual scene with gold leaf on vessels and altar; priest presenting kuśa and dūrvā; brāhmaṇas receiving dakṣiṇā; the first spade of earth lifted from a marked pit; ornate frame.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: instructional depiction of steps—offerings, brāhmaṇa-satkāra, then digging; clean composition with tools (spade, measuring cord) and plant bundles; subtle colors and fine detailing.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: outdoor ceremony with detailed textiles; scholars seated, officiant offering grasses; laborers digging a neat square; delicate rendering of plants and tools, architectural site markers in background."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: śarais tathākāśair → śaraiḥ tathā kāśaiḥ; dūrvābhiryā → dūrvābhiḥ yā; viprāṃś ca → viprān ca; khātapūrvantu → khāta-pūrvam tu. ‘śiḥśalpām’ is a difficult/uncertain padapāṭha; analyzed as a feminine accusative singular noun.
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa: Śānti-kalpa and pūjā-vidhi sections (offerings, brāhmaṇa-bhojana, vighna-śānti); Agni Purāṇa: Vāstu chapters on śalyoddhāra and bhūmi-śuddhi (site purification)
FAQs
It prescribes specific ritual materials (kuśa, dūrvā, arrows, and an ākāśa-plant) for worship, followed by honoring brāhmaṇas and commencing a śānti-type rite with the preliminary act of digging the ritual spot/pit.
It exemplifies the text’s procedural cataloging of ritual technology—listing exact implements and sequential actions (offerings → brāhmaṇa-satkara → site preparation), typical of the Agni Purana’s practical, handbook-like coverage of dharma and rites.
Using sanctifying grasses and performing worship with proper preliminaries—especially honoring brāhmaṇas—supports purification, appeasement (śānti), and the reduction of ritual/ethical blemishes through correctly ordered observance.