Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 11
Chapter 35: पवित्राधिवासनादिविधिः
Method of Consecrating the Pavitra and Related Rites
धर्मकामार्थसिद्ध्यर्थं स्वकेङ्गे धारयाम्यहं आसने परिवारादौ गुरौ दद्यात् पवित्रकं
dharmakāmārthasiddhyarthaṃ svakeṅge dhārayāmyahaṃ āsane parivārādau gurau dadyāt pavitrakaṃ
ధర్మ, కామ, అర్థసిద్ధి కోసం నేను ఈ పవిత్రకాన్ని నా దేహంపై ధరిస్తాను. మొదట గురువుకు పవిత్రకాన్ని సమర్పించి, తరువాత ఆసనానికి మరియు పరివార దేవతలకు అర్పించాలి.
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","secondary_vidya":null,"practical_application":"Establishes the correct order of sanctification and offering in worship: first honor the guru, then the āsana and attendant deities, while wearing/holding the pavitraka with a stated intention for life-goals.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Pavitraka-dhāraṇa and offering order (guru–āsana–parivāra)","lookup_keywords":["pavitraka","guru-pūjā","āsana","parivāra-devatā","dharma-kāma-artha-siddhi"],"quick_summary":"Wear/hold the pavitraka with a sankalpa for dharma–kāma–artha, and offer the pavitraka first to the guru, then to the seat and attendant deities to properly commence the rite."}
Concept: Right order (krama) and intention (saṅkalpa) make ritual efficacious; honoring the guru is the gateway to successful worship.
Application: Begin rites by mentally stating the purpose and by first offering respect to the teacher/lineage before addressing the deity’s seat and retinue.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Ritual Procedure and Mantra-dharana)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A worshipper wearing/holding a pavitraka approaches the seated guru first, then turns toward the deity’s āsana and the surrounding parivāra-devatās arranged around the altar.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, warm earthy palette, a guru seated on a wooden pīṭha, devotee offering a pavitraka ring/cord, altar with lamps, parivāra-devatās in small surrounding panels, sacred calm atmosphere","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central guru with ornate halo, devotee presenting pavitraka, gold-leaf detailing on altar vessels and lamps, symmetrical composition, rich reds and greens","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, fine linework, instructional ritual layout: guru at left, āsana and parivāra placements labeled visually, pavitraka highlighted, soft pastel background","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly interior turned into a ritual pavilion, detailed textiles, devotee offering a small ring/cord to a teacher, attendants and small deity icons around, delicate borders"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: स्वकेङ्गे = स्वके अङ्गे; धारयाम्यहं = धारयामि अहम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Puja-vidhi sections on saṅkalpa, upacāras, guru-pūjā, and parivāra-arcana (within the same khanda)
FAQs
It teaches pavitraka-dhāraṇa (wearing/placing a sanctifying pavitraka) with the ritual priority of offering it first to the guru, then to the āsana and the parivāra-devatās, as part of a puja-vidhi sequence.
Alongside theology, the Agni Purana preserves practical ritual micro-protocols—objects (pavitraka), placement (on one’s body), and offering order (guru → āsana → retinue-deities)—demonstrating its manual-like coverage of ceremonial procedure.
The pavitraka functions as a purifier and ritual ‘authorization’ token; wearing it and honoring the guru and attendant deities is framed as a means toward siddhi—successful fulfillment of dharma, kāma, and artha through properly ordered worship.