Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 11
Chapter 35: पवित्राधिवासनादिविधिः
Method of Consecrating the Pavitra and Related Rites
धर्मकामार्थसिद्ध्यर्थं स्वकेङ्गे धारयाम्यहं आसने परिवारादौ गुरौ दद्यात् पवित्रकं
dharmakāmārthasiddhyarthaṃ svakeṅge dhārayāmyahaṃ āsane parivārādau gurau dadyāt pavitrakaṃ
“Demi tercapainya dharma, kāma dan artha, aku mengenakan (ini) pada tubuhku sendiri.” Hendaklah pavitraka (cincin/tali penyucian yang ditahbiskan) dipersembahkan terlebih dahulu kepada guru, kemudian kepada āsana dan para dewa pengiring (parivāra-devatā) pada permulaan upacara.
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","secondary_vidya":null,"practical_application":"Establishes the correct order of sanctification and offering in worship: first honor the guru, then the āsana and attendant deities, while wearing/holding the pavitraka with a stated intention for life-goals.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Pavitraka-dhāraṇa and offering order (guru–āsana–parivāra)","lookup_keywords":["pavitraka","guru-pūjā","āsana","parivāra-devatā","dharma-kāma-artha-siddhi"],"quick_summary":"Wear/hold the pavitraka with a sankalpa for dharma–kāma–artha, and offer the pavitraka first to the guru, then to the seat and attendant deities to properly commence the rite."}
Concept: Right order (krama) and intention (saṅkalpa) make ritual efficacious; honoring the guru is the gateway to successful worship.
Application: Begin rites by mentally stating the purpose and by first offering respect to the teacher/lineage before addressing the deity’s seat and retinue.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Ritual Procedure and Mantra-dharana)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A worshipper wearing/holding a pavitraka approaches the seated guru first, then turns toward the deity’s āsana and the surrounding parivāra-devatās arranged around the altar.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, warm earthy palette, a guru seated on a wooden pīṭha, devotee offering a pavitraka ring/cord, altar with lamps, parivāra-devatās in small surrounding panels, sacred calm atmosphere","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central guru with ornate halo, devotee presenting pavitraka, gold-leaf detailing on altar vessels and lamps, symmetrical composition, rich reds and greens","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, fine linework, instructional ritual layout: guru at left, āsana and parivāra placements labeled visually, pavitraka highlighted, soft pastel background","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly interior turned into a ritual pavilion, detailed textiles, devotee offering a small ring/cord to a teacher, attendants and small deity icons around, delicate borders"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: स्वकेङ्गे = स्वके अङ्गे; धारयाम्यहं = धारयामि अहम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Puja-vidhi sections on saṅkalpa, upacāras, guru-pūjā, and parivāra-arcana (within the same khanda)
FAQs
It teaches pavitraka-dhāraṇa (wearing/placing a sanctifying pavitraka) with the ritual priority of offering it first to the guru, then to the āsana and the parivāra-devatās, as part of a puja-vidhi sequence.
Alongside theology, the Agni Purana preserves practical ritual micro-protocols—objects (pavitraka), placement (on one’s body), and offering order (guru → āsana → retinue-deities)—demonstrating its manual-like coverage of ceremonial procedure.
The pavitraka functions as a purifier and ritual ‘authorization’ token; wearing it and honoring the guru and attendant deities is framed as a means toward siddhi—successful fulfillment of dharma, kāma, and artha through properly ordered worship.