Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 24
Chapter 24 — कुण्डनिर्माणादिविधिः
Procedure for Constructing the Fire-pit and Related Rites
पवित्रान्तर्हिते हस्ते परिश्राव्य च तज्जलं प्राङ्नीत्वा प्रोक्षणीपात्रण् ज्योतिरग्रे निधाय च
pavitrāntarhite haste pariśrāvya ca tajjalaṃ prāṅnītvā prokṣaṇīpātraṇ jyotiragre nidhāya ca
పవిత్రం ధరించిన చేతితో ఆ నీటిని వడకట్టి/జార్చి, తూర్పు ముఖంగా ప్రోక్షణీ పాత్రను తీసుకొని పవిత్ర అగ్ని (జ్యోతి) ముందర ఉంచవలెను।
Lord Agni (in dialogue tradition, instructing Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Teaches filtration/straining of ritual water with pavitra and correct orientation/placement of the sprinkling vessel before agni to prepare for prokṣaṇa and saṃskāra.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Pavitra-pariśrāva and prokṣaṇī-sthāpana before Agni","lookup_keywords":["pavitra","pariśrāva","prokṣaṇī-pātra","prāṅmukha","agni-sannidhi"],"quick_summary":"Strain the water through the pavitra held in the hand; then, facing east, place the prokṣaṇī vessel in front of the sacred fire for ensuing purification acts."}
Concept: Outer purification (bahir-śauca) mirrors inner attentiveness; correct dik (direction) and sthāpana support ritual order (ṛta).
Application: Use pavitra to strain water (remove physical/ritual impurity) and maintain consistent eastward orientation in homa steps.
Khanda Section: Pūjā-vidhi (Agneya-vidhi) — Ritual purification and sprinkling procedures
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A priest holds a pavitra ring/kuśa in the hand, letting water trickle through it into the prokṣaṇī vessel; then he places the vessel before the bright fire while facing east.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, close-up of hand with pavitra filtering water, droplets rendered as white highlights, prokṣaṇī vessel near a luminous agni, priest oriented east, minimal background with ritual geometry.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, prominent glowing agni (jyotis) with gold accents, priest placing prokṣaṇī in front, pavitra in hand, ornate vessel designs, symmetrical devotional layout.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic panel showing two steps: (1) pariśrāva through pavitra, (2) placement of prokṣaṇī before agni; soft colors, clear gestures, neat ritual floor markings.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined depiction of water being strained through grass ring, priest in profile facing east, firelight reflecting on metal vessel, architectural niche framing the yajña scene."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shuddha Sarang","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पवित्रान्तर्हिते = पवित्र + अन्तर्हिते; तज्जलं = तत् + जलम्; प्राङ्नीत्वा = प्राक् + नीत्वा; प्रोक्षणीपात्रण् (पाठे) = प्रोक्षणी-पात्रम् (अनुस्वार/हलन्त-लोप-भेद).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 24 (prokṣaṇa sequence around agni)
FAQs
It teaches prokṣaṇa-vidhi: ritually purifying water by letting it pass through/with a pavitra, then orienting oneself eastward and positioning the prokṣaṇīpātra before the sacred fire for subsequent sprinkling.
It functions as a procedural manual for worship—preserving precise liturgical micro-actions (tools, orientation, placement of vessels), showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of practical temple/household ritual technique alongside broader theology.
Purifying and correctly placing ritual water and implements is believed to remove ritual impurity, ensure correctness (śuddhi) of worship, and thereby make offerings spiritually efficacious and merit-bearing.