Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 9
Chapter 156 — द्रव्यशुद्धिः (Dravya-śuddhi) / Purification of Substances
कुशुम्भकुसुमानाञ्च ऊर्णाकार्पासयोस् तथा शुद्धन्नदीगतं तोयं पुण्यन्तद्वत् प्रसारितं
kuśumbhakusumānāñca ūrṇākārpāsayos tathā śuddhannadīgataṃ toyaṃ puṇyantadvat prasāritaṃ
कुशुंभ (कुसुम) फुले, लोकर व कापूस—तसेच नदीतून घेतलेले शुद्ध पाणी—प्रसारित/पसरवून उपयोगात आणल्यास तद्वत् पावन (शुद्धिकारक) मानले जाते।
Lord Agni (in dialogue with Sage Vasiṣṭha, as the principal narrator of Agni Purana teachings)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Selecting and handling purifying materials (flowers, wool, cotton, river water) for ritual use—especially when spread out for pavitrīkaraṇa.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Purifying Substances: Kuśumbha Flowers, Wool, Cotton, and River Water","lookup_keywords":["kuśumbha","ūṛṇā","kārpāsa","nadī-jala","pavitrīkara"],"quick_summary":"Safflower flowers, wool, cotton, and clean river water—when properly laid out/handled—are treated as purifying media suitable for ritual cleanliness and consecratory contexts."}
Concept: Pavitrīkaraṇa depends on both substance and proper handling (prasāraṇa/spreading, keeping it clean).
Application: Use clean, spread-out cloth/fibers and fresh flowers as purifiers; draw uncontaminated river water for sprinkling/ablution in rites.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Śauca–Prāyaścitta / Purification Rites)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: River
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Ritual space with safflower flowers arranged, wool and cotton spread on clean cloth, and a pot filled with clear river water brought from the bank for purification rites.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, riverbank with devotee drawing water, courtyard with safflower flowers, wool and cotton spread neatly, warm tones, stylized waves and lotus motifs.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, ornate kalasha of river water with gold work, safflower blossoms and folded cotton/wool displayed as sacred items, rich colors and decorative border.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean instructional layout: river water collection and arrangement of kuśumbha flowers, wool, cotton for pavitrīkaraṇa, delicate detailing.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined still-life of flowers and textiles, attendant carrying water pot from river, detailed landscape with flowing water and trees."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कुशुम्भकुसुमानाञ्च = कुशुम्भकुसुमानाम् + च; ऊर्णाकार्पासयोस् = ऊर्णा + कार्पासयोः; शुद्धन्नदीगतं = शुद्ध + नदीगतं; पुण्यन्तद्वत् interpreted as पुण्य-तद्वत् (sandhi: अ + त → न्त in recitation/orthography).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 156 (lists of śuddhi-dravyas and their handling)
FAQs
It lists specific materials—safflower flowers, wool, cotton, and pure river water—as ritually purifying substances when laid out for use in worship or cleansing contexts.
By cataloging practical ritual-grade materials and their purity status, it functions like a procedural manual within the Purana, alongside its many other domains (rites, law, temple practice, and conduct).
Using substances deemed “purifying” supports ritual correctness (śauca), which is traditionally held to remove impurity (aśauca/mala) and enable merit-bearing worship and sacred acts.