Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 25
Chapter 34 — होमादिविधिः
The Procedure for Homa and Related Rites
प्रक्षाल्य हस्तौ रेखाश् च तिस्रः पूर्वाग्रगामिनीः चार्हणा इति ख, ङ, चिह्नितपुस्तकद्वयपाठः दूर्वाग्रमिति ङ, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः दक्षिणादुत्तराश् च तिस्रश् चैवओत्तराग्रगाः
prakṣālya hastau rekhāś ca tisraḥ pūrvāgragāminīḥ cārhaṇā iti kha, ṅa, cihnitapustakadvayapāṭhaḥ dūrvāgramiti ṅa, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ dakṣiṇāduttarāś ca tisraś caivaottarāgragāḥ
Омыв обе руки, следует начертать три линии, концы которых направлены к востоку. (В некоторых рукописях читается «с cārhaṇā», тогда как другое чтение — «кончиком травы durvā».) Так же следует начертать три линии с юга на север, с концами, обращёнными к северу.
Lord Agni (in instruction to Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Ritual hand-preparation and directional marking: after washing hands, draw prescribed triads of lines oriented eastward and northward (with variant readings using cārhaṇā/dūrvā-tip), as part of nyāsa/mudrā/maṇḍala preliminaries.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Directional Rekhā-drawing on Hands (Triads Eastward and Northward)","lookup_keywords":["rekhā","hasta-śuddhi","dūrvā","nyāsa","dik-nirdeśa"],"quick_summary":"Wash the hands and draw three east-pointing lines and three south-to-north lines (tips northward), using the specified implement (variant: cārhaṇā or dūrvā-tip), to prepare for subsequent ritual acts."}
Concept: Ritual efficacy depends on precise bodily ‘coding’ (saṃskāra) and directional alignment; the hands become qualified instruments of offering.
Application: Standardize hand-prep: wash, then mark lines with the correct implement; keep consistency with one’s paddhati/manuscript tradition.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Ritual Procedure and Nyasa/Mudra Instructions)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Close view of washed hands; the practitioner draws three fine lines pointing east and three lines running south-to-north with tips northward, using a small grass tip (dūrvā) or ritual implement per variant reading.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized hands in foreground with thin rekhā marks, dūrvā grass held delicately, ritual vessels blurred behind, earthy tones, emphasis on sacred precision.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, ornate depiction of hands with gold-highlighted bangles and ritual thread, fine lines drawn on palms, dūrvā tip as tool, rich decorative border.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional close-up: arrows indicating east and north, three-line sets clearly shown, dūrvā/cārhaṇā implement rendered neatly, minimal background.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, naturalistic hands and grass tip, fine ink-like lines on skin, attendants and manuscripts in background hinting at variant readings, delicate shading."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: रेखाश् च → रेखाः च; संस्पृशेन्नरः-वत्: here no finite verb is explicitly present in the transmitted line; the verse contains editorial notes (पाठभेद) like ‘चार्हणा…’, ‘दूर्वाग्रमिति…’ which are not part of the metrical instruction and are omitted from pada-table. दक्षिणादुत्तराः → दक्षिणात् उत्तराः; चैवओत्तराग्रगाः → च एव उत्तराग्रगाः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 34 (nyāsa/mudrā and homa preliminaries)
FAQs
It teaches a precise worship-procedure: after washing the hands, the practitioner draws three directional lines on the hands—east-pointing lines and south-to-north (north-pointing) lines—using a specified ritual means (variantly read as cārhaṇā or the tip of durvā grass).
Beyond theology, it preserves highly technical, step-by-step liturgical micro-instructions (directionality, hand-rites, and permitted implements), showing the Agni Purāṇa’s compendium-like coverage of practical ritual technology alongside broader doctrines.
Hand-washing and prescribed markings function as ritual purification and correct ritual alignment (dik-sambandha), supporting the efficacy (siddhi) of worship by ensuring bodily and directional sanctity before subsequent mantras or offerings.