Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 16
अध्याय १६२ — धर्मशास्त्रकथनम्
Dharmaśāstra Exposition: Authorities, Pravṛtti–Nivṛtti, Upākarman, and Anadhyāya Rules
अमेध्यशवशूद्रान्त्यश्मशानपतितान्तिके अशुभासु च तारासु विद्युत्स्तनितसम्प्लवे
amedhyaśavaśūdrāntyaśmaśānapatitāntike aśubhāsu ca tārāsu vidyutstanitasamplave
अपवित्र द्रव्य, प्रेत, शूद्र, अंत्यज, स्मशान किंवा पतित यांच्या निकटी; तसेच अशुभ नक्षत्रांत, विज-गर्जना व मुसळधार पावसाच्या गोंधळात (कर्म/अनुष्ठान) टाळावे.
Lord Agni (in discourse to Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Avoid initiating or continuing rites near contaminating persons/places (corpse, cremation ground, outcaste, fallen person) and during inauspicious astral/weather conditions; relocate or postpone to preserve śauca and siddhi.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Ritual avoidance zones and times: aśauca proximity and inauspicious stars/weather","lookup_keywords":["amedhya shava shmashana","patita antya shudra","ashubha tara","vidyut stanita"],"quick_summary":"Rites should be avoided near sources of impurity (corpse, cremation ground, etc.) and during inauspicious stellar conditions or violent weather (lightning, thunder, deluge)."}
Concept: Deśa-kāla-śuddhi: purity depends on place and time; proximity to death/impurity and hostile cosmic/weather signs obstruct ritual fitness.
Application: Choose a clean, protected ritual space; if unavoidable, postpone and perform śānti/purification according to one’s tradition.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Shaucha-ashaucha (Ritual purity rules and omens)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Type: Sacred/liminal place
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritualist refrains from worship as lightning and thunder break over a landscape; in the distance lies a cremation ground and a corpse-bier, marking the prohibited vicinity.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, dramatic monsoon sky with stylized lightning, a distant śmaśāna with funeral pyre iconography, priest stepping back from altar, symbolic inauspicious stars overhead","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, altar scene with gold detailing, storm cloud and lightning above, distant cremation-ground vignette, strong iconographic contrasts of purity vs impurity","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear didactic scene: ‘avoid here/now’ markers near corpse/śmaśāna and under inauspicious stars, fine linework and calm instructional tone","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, rainstorm with lightning over a riverside; small cremation-ground scene at margin; priest and attendants sheltering ritual items, detailed landscape"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Malkauns","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: Long initial compound ends in अन्तिके (locative); विद्युत्स्तनितसम्प्लवे = विद्युत् + स्तनित + सम्प्लवे.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 162 (śauca-aśauca and nimitta-based prohibitions)
FAQs
It lists ashaucha/inauspicious conditions—impure surroundings, proximity to death-associated places/persons, and adverse weather/astral signs—under which a ritual (puja, japa, homa, or other observance) should be postponed or avoided.
It combines dharma-shastra style purity regulations with jyotiṣa-style auspicious/inauspicious timing and environmental omens, showing how the text integrates ritual procedure, social-religious conduct, and astral considerations.
Performing rites in impure or inauspicious circumstances is treated as diminishing efficacy and merit; avoiding such conditions protects the sanctity of worship and supports the intended purificatory and merit-producing result.