Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 21
Rājābhiṣeka-kathana
Account of the Royal Consecration
कुर्वीत मधुना विप्रश्छन्दोगश् च कुशोदकैः सम्पातवन्तं कलशं तथा गत्वा पुरोहितः
kurvīta madhunā vipraśchandogaś ca kuśodakaiḥ sampātavantaṃ kalaśaṃ tathā gatvā purohitaḥ
विप्रः मधुना कर्म कुर्यात्; छन्दोगः कुशोदकैः। तथा पुरोहितोऽपि विधिं गत्वा सम्पातवन्तं कलशं संस्कुर्यात्॥
Lord Agni (in narration to Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Role-specific ritual media selection (honey vs kuśa-water) and preparation of a sampāta-empowered kalaśa for sprinkling/consecration in pūjā/abhiṣeka contexts.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Sampāta-kalaśa preparation with honey/kuśodaka by officiant type","lookup_keywords":["sampāta","kalaśa","kuśodaka","madhu","chāndoga"],"quick_summary":"The verse assigns distinct consecrating media to different officiants and instructs the purohita to prepare a kalaśa charged with sampāta for ritual sprinkling and empowerment."}
Concept: Adhikāra-bheda (role-based ritual competence) and dravya-śuddhi through empowered water-vessel (kalaśa).
Application: Match ritual substances to officiant lineage/function and ensure the kalaśa is ritually ‘charged’ before sprinkling acts.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Vedic/Tantric ritual procedure)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A purohita approaches the ritual space holding a consecrated kalaśa; nearby a brāhmaṇa uses honey and a Chāndoga uses kuśa-infused water, indicating differentiated ritual media.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural: priestly figures in white dhoti with sacred thread, a shining kalaśa with water and kuśa, honey pot beside; stylized yajña setting, warm earthy palette, clear ritual gestures.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting: central golden kalaśa emphasized with gold leaf, priests offering honey and kuśodaka, ornate ritual platform, rich reds and greens, embossed ornaments on vessels.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting: instructional composition showing labeled items—madhu vessel, kuśa-water pot, sampāta kalaśa—fine lines, soft shading, calm ritual interior.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: detailed court-ritual pavilion, purohita preparing kalaśa, attendants holding honey and kuśa bundles, intricate textiles and vessels, naturalistic faces."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: विप्रश्छन्दोगश् → विप्रः छन्दोगः; कुशोदकैः = कुश-उदकैः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); गच्छेद् (next verse) etc. not here.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 218 (pūjā-vidhi/abhiṣeka sequence)
FAQs
It specifies priestly variants in ritual preparation—using honey (madhu) or kuśa-purified water—and instructs the making of an empowered (sampāta-yukta) consecration pot (kalaśa) for the rite.
By preserving procedural details of priestly roles (vipra, chāndoga, purohita) and standardized ritual implements (kalaśa, kuśodaka), it functions like a compact ritual manual embedded within a Purāṇa.
Preparing a properly empowered kalaśa with ritually pure substances is treated as a correctness condition for worship, aiming at purification (śuddhi) and ensuring the rite yields its intended merit (puṇya) and efficacy.