Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 29
Chapter 41 — शिलाविन्यासविधानं
The Procedure for Laying the Stones / Foundation Setting
कृत्वा निधापयेद्गर्भं गर्भाधानं भवेन्निशि गोवस्त्रादि प्रदद्याच्च गुरवेन्येषु भोजनं
kṛtvā nidhāpayedgarbhaṃ garbhādhānaṃ bhavenniśi govastrādi pradadyācca guravenyeṣu bhojanaṃ
విధిని నిర్వహించి గర్భనిధాన (సంకల్ప)ాన్ని స్థాపించవలెను; గర్భాధాన సంస్కారం రాత్రియందు చేయవలెను. గోవు, వస్త్రాది దానమిచ్చి, గురువుకును ఇతరులకును భోజనం పెట్టవలెను.
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha, as typical Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Guidance for garbhadhana samskara timing and associated dana (gifts) and hospitality to guru/others as part of household rites.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Garbhadhana Samskara: Night Performance with Dana and Bhojana","lookup_keywords":["garbhadhana","samskara","night-rite","dana","guru-bhojana"],"quick_summary":"Perform garbhadhana at night with proper observance, then give gifts (cow, garments) and feed the guru and others—linking samskara to dana and hospitality."}
Concept: Samskara is not private alone: it is integrated with gratitude to teachers and social merit through dana and feeding.
Application: When performing life-cycle rites, include appropriate gifts and hospitality to uphold dharmic reciprocity and communal auspiciousness.
Khanda Section: Samskara-vidhi (Garbhadhana and household rites)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Type: Domestic rite-space
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A night-time household samskara setting: couple with priest performing garbhadhana sankalpa; afterward, gifting a cow and garments, and serving a meal to the guru and guests.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, night-lit interior with oil lamps, priest chanting, couple seated respectfully, later scene of cow-gift and serving food on banana leaves, warm tones and stylized figures","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, ceremonial couple and priest with gold accents, cow and folded garments as offerings, ornate lamp glow, rich gold leaf detailing","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional composition showing sequence: night rite, dana of cow/cloth, guru seated for bhojana, fine linework and gentle colors","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, nocturnal indoor scene with lamps, detailed textiles, subsequent courtyard gifting of cow and garments, banquet-like feeding of guru, intricate border"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: nidhāpayedgarbhaṃ → nidhāpayet garbham (d/t sandhi); bhavenniśi → bhavet niśi; pradadyācca → pradadyāt ca.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 41 (samskara-vidhi context)
FAQs
It prescribes Garbhādhāna-saṃskāra timing (night performance) and the accompanying observances of dāna (gifts like cow and garments) and bhojana (feeding the guru and others).
It exemplifies the Agni Purāṇa’s practical coverage of gṛhastha-dharma by giving concise, procedural instructions for a saṃskāra, including proper timing, charity, and social-religious obligations (honoring the guru and feeding others).
By aligning conception with a sanctioned saṃskāra and supporting it through dāna and feeding, the act is framed as dharmic and purificatory, intended to generate merit (puṇya) and sanctify the household’s lineage-intention.