Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 10
Chapter 166: वर्णधर्मादिकथनं
Exposition of Varṇa-Dharma and Related Topics
गर्भाधानं पुंसवनं सीमन्तोन्नयनः ततः जातकर्म नामकृतिरन्नप्राशनचूडकं
garbhādhānaṃ puṃsavanaṃ sīmantonnayanaḥ tataḥ jātakarma nāmakṛtirannaprāśanacūḍakaṃ
Таковы: Garbhādhāna (обряд зачатия), Puṃsavana (обряд для рождения/обеспечения сына), затем Sīmantonnayana (обряд пробора волос у беременной); далее Jātakarma (обряд при рождении), Nāmakṛti (наречение имени), Annaprāśana (первое кормление твердой пищей) и Cūḍākarma (первая тонзура).
Lord Agni (traditionally narrating the Agni Purana to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"A checklist of early life-cycle saṃskāras for householders and priests to schedule rites from conception through childhood.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Prārambhika-saṃskāra-sūcī: Garbhādhānādi Cūḍāntam","lookup_keywords":["garbhādhāna","puṃsavana","sīmantonnayana","jātakarma","annaprāśana"],"quick_summary":"Enumerates the principal prenatal and early-childhood saṃskāras. Useful as a procedural index for gṛhya performance order."}
Concept: Saṃskāra as progressive refinement from garbha to bālya, conferring social-religious legitimacy and spiritual fitness.
Application: Plan and perform rites in sequence: conception rite, prenatal rites, birth rite, naming, first solid food, and first tonsure—ensuring family continuity and dharmic upbringing.
Khanda Section: Samskara-vidhi (Grihya Dharma and life-cycle rites)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vatsalya
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sequence panel showing the household performing successive rites: conception blessing, pregnant woman hair-parting, newborn jātakarma, naming ceremony, first feeding, and child’s first tonsure.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural narrative frieze with six vignettes of saṃskāras—pregnancy hair-parting, newborn rite, naming, annaprāśana, cūḍā—traditional costumes, warm earthy palette, temple interior cues","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold accents, central annaprāśana scene (child fed by father/mother), surrounding smaller medallions for other saṃskāras, ornate arch and halo-like motifs","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean instructional storyboard of saṃskāra steps with labeled captions in Devanagari, delicate lines, soft colors, domestic setting","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate household ceremonies in a courtyard, women attendants for sīmantonnayana, priest with manuscript, detailed textiles and utensils, multiple scenes in one page"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: नामकृतिः+अन्न…→नामकृतिरन्न… (र्-सन्धि); सीमन्त+उन्नयनः→सीमन्तोन्नयनः (ओ-गुण/सन्धि)
Related Themes: Agni Purana 166 (saṃskāra lists continuing with upanayana etc.)
FAQs
It enumerates key Gṛhya-saṃskāras—domestic sacraments—from conception and prenatal rites through birth, naming, first solid food, and tonsure, forming a practical checklist of household ritual obligations.
By cataloging standardized life-cycle rites (saṃskāras), the text functions as a compact dharma-manual alongside its many other subjects—showing how the Agni Purana compiles ritual, social, and religious norms in a reference-like format.
These saṃskāras are traditionally viewed as rites of purification and auspicious consecration, intended to sanctify major transitions (garbha to birth to early childhood) and align family life with dharma for merit (puṇya) and well-being.