Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 12
Chapter 64 — कूपादिप्रतिष्ठाकथनं
The Account of the Consecration of Wells and Other Water-Works
समुद्रं गच्छ गाङ्गेयात् सोमो धेन्विति वर्षकात् देवीरापो निर्झराद्भिर् नदाद्भिः पञ्चनद्यतः
samudraṃ gaccha gāṅgeyāt somo dhenviti varṣakāt devīrāpo nirjharādbhir nadādbhiḥ pañcanadyataḥ
Wahai air Gaṅgā, pergilah menuju lautan. Dari awan hujan, engkau adalah Soma, dan juga dhenu, lembu perah yang melimpahkan rezeki. Wahai Air-Airmu yang bersifat dewi, datanglah dari mata air dan dari sungai-sungai, dari negeri Pañcanada, tanah Lima Sungai.
Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purana narration to Vasiṣṭha, within ritual-instruction passages)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Mantra-based invocation and gathering of waters from multiple sacred sources for snāna, prokṣaṇa, and āpaḥ-prāśana/śānti in pūjā.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Mantra","entry_title":"Āpaḥ-saṅgraha: summoning waters from Gaṅgā, ocean, rain-cloud, springs, rivers, and Pañcanada","lookup_keywords":["devir-apah","Ganga to ocean","Soma rain-cloud","nirjhara springs","Panchanada"],"quick_summary":"The mantra sacralizes local water by identifying it with Gaṅgā, oceanic waters, rain (Soma), springs, rivers, and the Pañcanada region—creating a universal tīrtha-water for purification."}
Alamkara Type: Rupaka
Concept: Bandhu (correspondence): a small quantity of water becomes ‘all waters’ through mantra-identification and intention.
Application: For rites away from major tīrthas, invoke their presence through authorized water-mantras to create ritually complete snāna/prokṣaṇa water.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Tirtha-snana and Apah-prashamana (Ritual use of sacred waters)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: River
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual vessel of water on an altar, while behind it appear symbolic vignettes: Gaṅgā flowing to the ocean, rain-clouds pouring Soma-like rain, mountain springs, broad rivers, and the five-river landscape—converging into the single kalaśa.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, layered landscape bands: Gaṅgā river, ocean waves, monsoon cloud with rain labeled Soma, mountain spring, five rivers converging; central kalaśa on altar glowing with sanctity","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, central ornate kalaśa with gold leaf, surrounding medallions depicting Gaṅgā, ocean, rain-cloud, springs, rivers, Pañcanada; rich reds and greens, temple-like framing","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear instructional composition: arrows from icons (river, ocean, cloud, spring, five rivers) pointing into a single water pot; priest chanting ‘devīr āpaḥ’ beside it","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, panoramic riverine landscape with five tributaries, cloudburst, ocean shore; foreground scholar-priest with manuscript, small kalaśa receiving symbolic streams"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Megh","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: धेन्विति = धेनु + इति; देवीरापः = देवीः + आपः; निर्झराद्भिः = निर्झरात् + भिः; नदाद्भिः = नदात् + भिः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 64 (tīrtha-jala-nyāsa, snāna-mantras, āpaḥ-śānti)
FAQs
It functions as an āpaḥ-invocation: ritually summoning sanctified waters from famed sources (Gaṅgā, rain, springs, rivers, Pañcanada) for snāna (purificatory bathing) or ācamana/prokṣaṇa (sipping/sprinkling) in worship.
It blends ritual practice with sacred geography and Vedic symbolism (Soma, waters as devīs), showing how the Agni Purana catalogs practical worship procedures alongside pan-Indian tīrtha networks.
Invoking waters as divine and universally sourced frames bathing/sprinkling as a comprehensive purification act—linking the practitioner to major tīrthas and supporting inner and outer śuddhi (purity) for merit (puṇya) in rites.