Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 3
Chapter 34 — होमादिविधिः
The Procedure for Homa and Related Rites
प्रक्षालितकराङ्घ्रिः सन् विन्यस्यार्घ्यकरो नरः अर्घ्यादिभिस्तु शिरः प्रोक्ष्य द्वारदेशादिकं यथा
prakṣālitakarāṅghriḥ san vinyasyārghyakaro naraḥ arghyādibhistu śiraḥ prokṣya dvāradeśādikaṃ yathā
ເມື່ອລ້າງມືແລະຕີນແລ້ວ ຜູ້ປະກອບພິທີພຶງຖືພາຊະນະອາຣະຄະ (arghya) ໄວ້ໃນມື; ແລ້ວພຶງພອຍນ້ຳອາຣະຄະ ແລະນ້ຳຊຳລະອື່ນໆ ເພື່ອຊຳລະສິສະ. ດັ່ງນັ້ນດ້ວຍ ພຶງຊຳລະບ່ອນປະຕູ ແລະຈຸດອື່ນໆທີ່ກຳນົດໄວ້ ຕາມລຳດັບອັນຖືກຕ້ອງ.
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Ritual purity protocol before pūjā: washing limbs, holding arghya-vessel, sprinkling sanctified water on head and designated areas (doorway etc.) in prescribed order.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Prakṣālana, Arghya-grahaṇa, and Prokṣaṇa for Ātma-śuddhi and Sthāna-śuddhi","lookup_keywords":["prakṣālana","arghya pātra","prokṣaṇa","śuddhi","dvāra-deśa"],"quick_summary":"Begin worship by bodily cleansing, then perform prokṣaṇa using arghya and related sanctifying waters to purify oneself (especially the head) and the ritual space such as the doorway, following the correct sequence."}
Concept: Śauca (purity) as prerequisite for worship; inner readiness expressed through outer order.
Application: Adopt a consistent pre-ritual routine: wash, take arghya, sprinkle self and space systematically to cultivate attention and reverence.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Ritual Purification and Preparatory Rites)
Primary Rasa: śānta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A worshipper at the temple entrance washes hands and feet, then holds an arghya vessel and sprinkles sanctified water over his head and the doorway area in a measured sequence.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: temple doorway with lamp, priest sprinkling water from arghya vessel, stylized droplets, clean geometric doorway framing, muted earth reds and greens, serene posture.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: ornate doorway with gold embellishment, devotee holding arghya pātra, sparkling water droplets rendered with highlights, rich textiles, gold leaf accents on threshold motifs.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clear instructional depiction—washing feet, then prokṣaṇa to head and doorway; labeled steps, soft pastel palette, fine lines.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: courtyard scene with basin, devotee performing ablutions, attendant holding vessel, detailed doorway architecture, delicate depiction of sprinkling action."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: विन्यस्यार्घ्यकरो = विन्यस्य + अर्घ्यकरः; अर्घ्यादिभिस्तु = अर्घ्यादिभिः + तु; द्वारदेशादिकं = द्वार + देश + आदिकम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa: pūjā-vidhi sequences on ācamana, prokṣaṇa, bhūta-śuddhi, and dvāra-pūjā in adjacent verses/sections.
FAQs
It teaches the preparatory purification sequence for worship: wash hands and feet, hold the arghya, then perform prokṣaṇa (ritual sprinkling) to sanctify one’s head and the doorway/entry area according to rule.
By preserving precise, procedural details of pūjā-vidhi—cleanliness, handling of arghya, and spatial purification (doorway and designated zones)—it functions as a practical manual alongside the Purana’s many other disciplines.
Ritual washing and prokṣaṇa remove external and subtle impurity, making the body and the threshold-space fit for worship; it is treated as a meritorious act that supports purity of intention and successful rite-performance.