Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 16
Pavitrāropaṇa-vidhāna
The Procedure for Installing the Pavitra
विधिना विघ्नलोपेन परिपूर्णं तदस्तु मे प्रार्थ्य नत्वा क्षमाप्याथ पवित्रं मस्तके ऽर्पयेत्
vidhinā vighnalopena paripūrṇaṃ tadastu me prārthya natvā kṣamāpyātha pavitraṃ mastake 'rpayet
विधीनुसार व विघ्ननाश करून कर्म पूर्ण केल्यावर प्रार्थना करावी—“हे माझ्यासाठी परिपूर्ण असो”; मग नमस्कार करून क्षमा मागून पवित्र मस्तकी अर्पण करावे।
Lord Agni (in discourse to the sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Closing protocol for pūjā: pray for completeness (paripūrṇatā), perform namaskāra and kṣamā-yācñā, then ritually place the pavitra on the head as a final purification/seal.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Pūjā-parisamāpti: Vighna-lopa, Paripūrṇatā-prārthanā, Kṣamā, and Pavitra-mastakāropaṇa","lookup_keywords":["vighnalopa","paripūrṇam astu me","kṣamāpana","pavitra","mastake arpayet"],"quick_summary":"After completing worship per rule and praying for obstacle-removal and completeness, bow, ask forgiveness for lapses, and place the pavitra upon the head to conclude purification."}
Concept: Ritual integrity is completed by humility (kṣamā) and a sealing act (pavitra-āropaṇa) after invoking obstacle-removal.
Application: Adopt a consistent closing: ‘May it be complete,’ then kṣamā-prārthanā, then a final purificatory gesture to mark closure and mental clarity.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Shuddhi-kalpa (Ritual Procedure and Purificatory Observances)
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"At the end of worship, the devotee bows, hands folded in apology, then lifts the pavitra cord/ring and places it on the head before the deity.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: priest before sanctum, gesture of namaskāra, then raising pavitra to the crown, lamps and temple pillars, warm ochres, clear ritual hand-poses.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: concluding pūjā moment with gold-highlighted pavitra and crown area, deity framed by ornate arch, devotee kneeling, rich gold work emphasizing ‘completion’.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: step-by-step visual—vighna-lopa prayer scroll, bowing, kṣamā gesture, then pavitra on head—clean instructional layout with delicate ornamentation.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: intimate shrine room, devotee prostrating then touching head with sacred cord, attendants holding pūjā tray, fine architectural borders and soft illumination."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: tadastu = tat + astu; kṣamāpyātha = kṣamāpya + atha; mastake 'rpayet = mastake + arpayet (avagraha).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 36 (pavitra-dhāraṇa and kṣamā sequence)
FAQs
It prescribes the closing act of a worship sequence: pray for the rite’s completeness, bow, seek forgiveness for errors, and then place the pavitra (a purificatory sacred ring/cord used in pūjā) on the head as a sanctifying gesture.
Beyond theology, it records precise liturgical micro-steps—completion-prayer, prostration, expiation, and handling of ritual implements—showing the text’s coverage of practical temple/household ritual procedure alongside other disciplines.
Seeking kṣamā (forgiveness) ritually acknowledges human error in worship and is treated as a means to neutralize faults (doṣa) so the act becomes spiritually “complete” (paripūrṇa) and free of obstructive karma (vighna).