Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 22
Chapter 228 — स्वप्नाध्यायः
Svapnādhāyaḥ / Chapter on Dreams
चन्द्रार्कताराग्रहणं परिमार्जनमेव च शक्रध्वजालिङ्गनञ्च ध्वजोच्छ्रायक्रिया तथा
candrārkatārāgrahaṇaṃ parimārjanameva ca śakradhvajāliṅganañca dhvajocchrāyakriyā tathā
ਚੰਦਰ, ਸੂਰਜ ਅਤੇ ਤਾਰਾ/ਗ੍ਰਹਿ ਗ੍ਰਹਿਣ ਨਾਲ ਸੰਬੰਧਿਤ ਵਰਤ-ਨਿਯਮ, ਸ਼ੁੱਧੀ ਲਈ ਪਰਿਮਾਰਜਨ, ਇੰਦਰਧ੍ਵਜ ਦਾ ਆਲਿੰਗਨ/ਸਪਰਸ਼ ਕਰਨ ਦੀ ਰੀਤ, ਅਤੇ ਧ੍ਵਜ ਉੱਚ੍ਰਾਯ (ਝੰਡਾ ਚੁੱਕਣ) ਦੀ ਕ੍ਰਿਆ ਵੀ ਵਿਧਿਤ ਹੈ।
Lord Agni (in dialogue tradition, instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Jyotisha","practical_application":"Temple/royal ritual calendar: eclipse-related observances, purification rites, and state-ceremonial flag/Indra-banner protocols for auspiciousness and protection.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Grahaṇa-vidhi, Parimārjana, Śakra-dhvaja-āliṅgana, Dhvajo-cchrāya","lookup_keywords":["grahaṇa-vrata","parimārjana-śuddhi","śakra-dhvaja","dhvaja-ucchrāya","rāja/mandira-utsava"],"quick_summary":"Enumerates key auspicious observances: eclipse rites, cleansing/purification, and Indra-banner/flag ceremonies used in temple and royal contexts to secure prosperity and avert inauspiciousness."}
Concept: Ritual purity and auspicious timing (grahaṇa) as supports for social and cosmic order.
Application: Maintain calendrical discipline: perform prescribed cleansing and banner rites during eclipses/festivals to avert doṣa and stabilize communal welfare.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Ritual Observances, Auspicious Acts, and Royal/Temple Ceremonials)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A temple or royal courtyard during an eclipse observance: priests perform cleansing (sprinkling water, sweeping), devotees touch/embrace Indra’s banner, and a tall flag is ceremonially raised on a flagstaff.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat yet vivid colors, priests in white dhoti performing parimārjana with sacred water, Indra’s banner with ornate finial, dhvaja-stambha in temple courtyard, eclipse disk in sky, auspicious lamps and kalasha, traditional ornamentation","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, rich gold leaf on the dhvaja and ornaments, temple courtyard with dhvaja-stambha, priests performing purification, devotees touching the Śakra-dhvaja, stylized eclipse sun/moon, jewel-like detailing, symmetrical ceremonial composition","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, delicate linework, instructional clarity: sequence of cleansing, banner-touching, and flag-raising near dhvaja-stambha, labeled ritual implements (kalasha, prokshani), calm devotional palette","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly ceremonial scene: royal and priests in a palace-temple courtyard, tall flag being hoisted, attendants holding Indra’s banner, eclipse shown as a darkened sun/moon, fine architectural detail and textiles"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: candrārka-tārā-grahaṇam (समाहार/तत्पुरुष); parimārjanam+eva; śakradhvaja-āliṅganam+ca; dhvaja+ucchrāya+kriyā.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Puja-vidhi sections on śuddhi, utsava, dhvaja-stambha/flag rites (contextual); Agni Purana: Jyotiṣa/grahaṇa-prakaraṇa (contextual)
FAQs
It lists specific auspicious/ritual acts: observances during eclipses (grahaṇa), purification by cleansing (parimārjana), the ceremonial touching/embracing of Indra’s banner (śakradhvajāliṅgana), and the formal rite of hoisting the flag (dhvajocchrāya-kriyā).
It compresses multiple applied domains—Jyotiṣa-linked observances (eclipse conduct), ritual purity practices, and public ceremonial protocol (Indra-flag and flag-raising)—showing how the text catalogs practical religious and socio-ritual procedures alongside theology.
Eclipse-linked observances and purification acts are traditionally treated as merit-enhancing and impurity-removing, while banner/flag rites function as auspicious consecratory acts that invoke protection, prosperity, and ritual order for the community or kingdom.