Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 2
Chapter 72 — स्नानविशेषादिकथनम्
Special Rules of Bathing, Mantra-Purification, and Sandhyā
सर्वात्मना समुद्धृत्य पुनस्तेनैव पूरयेत् शिरसा पयसस्तीरे निधायास्त्रेण शोधयेत्
sarvātmanā samuddhṛtya punastenaiva pūrayet śirasā payasastīre nidhāyāstreṇa śodhayet
Tendo-a retirado por completo, deve-se preencher de novo com essa mesma (substância). Colocando-a na margem da água, com a cabeça inclinada, deve-se purificá-la pelo mantra da arma (astra).
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Ritual handling and purification of collected clay/earth: refill the pit, place the clay at the water’s edge with reverence, and purify it using astra-mantra.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Mṛd-śodhana by Astra-mantra at the waterbank","lookup_keywords":["mṛd-śodhana","astra-mantra","tīra","pūrayet","śirasā"],"quick_summary":"After taking clay, restore the site (ethical/ritual completeness), then consecrate the clay at the waterbank and purify it with the astra-mantra."}
Concept: Śuddhi is both material and intentional: restore what is taken, then sanctify through mantra and humility (śirasā).
Application: In ritual procurement, avoid leaving disruption; use mantra to mark transition from ordinary matter to consecrated implement.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Ritual purification and consecration procedures)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Type: Riverbank/Waterbody edge
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"At a riverbank, the practitioner respectfully places the collected clay, bows the head, refills the dug spot, and performs astra-mantra purification over the clay.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: devotee kneeling at the water’s edge, clay placed on a leaf/plate, hands in ritual gesture, subtle fiery aura indicating astra-mantra, restored earth patch behind, stylized rippling river","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: central figure bowing with clay on a small pedestal near water, gold-leaf highlights for mantra-energy, ornate border, ritual vessels nearby, symmetrical devotional layout","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clear instructional depiction—refilling the pit, placing clay at tīra, performing astra-śodhana with hand mudrā; fine linework, labeled steps, calm palette","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: riverside scene with detailed sandbank and water, devotee bowing, a faint luminous arc over the clay signifying mantra, attendants holding a water pot and cloth, naturalistic landscape"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पुनस्तेनैव→पुनः तेन एव. पयसस्तीरे→पयसः तीरे. निधायास्त्रेण→निधाय अस्त्रेण.
Related Themes: Agni Purana mantra-prayoga passages on astra-śodhana; Agni Purana snāna-vidhi continuation (72.3–72.4) for bodily purification sequence
FAQs
It teaches a practical śodhana (purification) step: remove the item completely, refill it with the same intended substance, place it by water, and purify it using the astra-mantra as a formal ritual cleanser.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purāṇa preserves step-by-step liturgical procedure—how to cleanse and re-consecrate ritual objects—showing its coverage of applied temple/household ritual technology alongside other sciences.
The act of bowing (śirasā) and mantra-based purification signifies humility and removal of ritual impurity, aiming to make the implement fit (śuddha) for worship and thereby ensure the rite yields undiminished religious merit.