Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 17
Rājābhiṣeka-kathana
Account of the Royal Consecration
अश्वस्थानात्तथा जङ्घे रथचक्रमृदाङ्घ्रिके मूर्धानं पञ्चगव्येन भद्रासनगतं नृपं
aśvasthānāttathā jaṅghe rathacakramṛdāṅghrike mūrdhānaṃ pañcagavyena bhadrāsanagataṃ nṛpaṃ
Kemudian, (ambil tanah) dari kandang kuda; demikian juga untuk betis. Dan (ambil) tanah yang disentuh oleh roda kereta dan oleh tapak kaki. Dengan itu hendaklah kepala raja—yang duduk dalam āsana bertuah (bhadrāsana)—disapukan/diurapi secara ritual dengan pañcagavya.
Lord Agni (in dialogue, instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Ritual purification and royal preparation: sourcing earth from prescribed places for limb-purification and anointing the king’s head with pañcagavya while seated in bhadrāsana.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Bhadrāsana-sthita rājā: pañcagavya-mūrdhābhiṣeka and mṛd-śodhana","lookup_keywords":["pañcagavya","bhadrāsana","mūrdhābhiṣeka","aśva-sthāna mṛd","ratha-cakra mṛd"],"quick_summary":"After limb-purification using earth from a horse-stable and from earth touched by chariot-wheel/feet, the king—seated in bhadrāsana—is anointed on the head with pañcagavya as a high-grade purifier."}
Concept: Auspicious posture (āsana) and sanctified substances (pañcagavya, selected mṛd) mediate the transition from ordinary to consecrated kingship.
Application: In abhiṣeka preliminaries, seat the king in bhadrāsana; perform prescribed mṛd-śodhana; then apply pañcagavya to the head as ritual purifier.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Ritual Purification and Royal Consecration Rites)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A king seated in bhadrāsana while priests anoint his head with pañcagavya; attendants present earth from a horse-stable and from ground marked by chariot wheel and footprints for limb purification.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, king in bhadrāsana on a low throne, priest pouring pañcagavya over the crown, attendants holding ritual bowls of earth, stylized horse-stable and chariot wheel motifs in background, oil lamps and temple-like setting","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style with gold work, central enthroned king in bhadrāsana, ornate kalasha and pañcagavya vessel, symbolic cow and horse motifs, chariot wheel emblem, rich jewelry and textiles","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear instructional composition: labeled bhadrāsana posture, pañcagavya anointing on head, side panels showing earth sources (aśva-sthāna, ratha-cakra-sparśa), fine lines and muted colors","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, court ritual scene with naturalistic figures, priest anointing king’s head, detailed vessels, chariot wheel and horse-stable rendered realistically, delicate borders and floral margins"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: aśvasthānāt → aśva-sthānāt; rathacakramṛdāṅghrike → ratha-cakra-mṛdā aṅghrike.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 218 (abhiṣeka preliminaries and śauca sequence)
FAQs
It specifies an abhiṣeka procedure: collect particular kinds of ritual earth (from a horse-stable and from tracks/contacts of chariot-wheel and feet) and anoint the king’s head with pañcagavya while he is seated in bhadrāsana.
It preserves highly specific, practice-oriented details of state-and-temple ritual technology (materials, posture/seat, and sequencing), illustrating how the Agni Purana functions as a manual spanning governance-linked rites, purity rules, and ceremonial procedure.
Pañcagavya and prescribed ritual substances are used for śuddhi (purification) and auspicious empowerment, framing kingship as a dharmic office sanctified through consecratory rites rather than mere political power.