Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 19
Chapter 166: वर्णधर्मादिकथनं
Exposition of Varṇa-Dharma and Related Topics
दन्तच्छेदनमुष्णं च सप्त शक्तुषु वर्जयेत् स्नात्वा पुष्पं न गृह्णीयाद् देवायोग्यन्तदीरितं
dantacchedanamuṣṇaṃ ca sapta śaktuṣu varjayet snātvā puṣpaṃ na gṛhṇīyād devāyogyantadīritaṃ
సప్త శక్తు-వ్రతాలలో దంతచ్ఛేదనం (పళ్లు శుభ్రం చేయడం) మరియు ఉష్ణ (జలం/ఆహారం) సేవనం వర్జించాలి. స్నానం చేసిన తరువాత పూలు కోయకూడదు; అది దేవార్పణకు అనర్హమని చెప్పబడింది.
Lord Agni (in discourse to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","practical_application":"Maintaining ritual purity during specific observances: avoid tooth-cleaning/cutting and hot intake; avoid plucking flowers after bathing so offerings remain ritually fit.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Śaktu-observance restrictions & flower-offering etiquette","lookup_keywords":["śaktu-vrata","danta-cchedana","uṣṇa-varjana","snāna-anantara","puṣpa-grahaṇa-niṣedha"],"quick_summary":"During the seven śaktu-observances, avoid tooth-cutting/cleaning and hot (food/water). After bathing, do not pluck flowers for worship; such flowers are deemed unfit for deity-offering."}
Concept: Devārpaṇa requires śauca and restraint; certain acts render offerings/performer ritually unsuitable.
Application: Adopt pre-pūjā discipline: regulate bodily acts and handling of offerings to preserve ritual fitness.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Ritual Purity and Temple Etiquette)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A devotee in a temple courtyard during a vrata: avoiding tooth-cleaning and hot items; after bathing, refraining from plucking flowers, while prepared flowers lie in a clean basket for offering.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, clean temple courtyard with oil-lamp glow, devotee in white dhoti after bath, hands folded, flower basket already prepared, emphasis on ritual purity, flat colors and ornate borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold leaf, deity shrine in background, devotee holding a flower basket without plucking, rich textiles, haloed sanctum, decorative arch and gold embellishments.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, instructional scene: sequence panels showing bath, then restraint from plucking flowers, labeled ritual items (water pot, flower tray), delicate lines and soft shading.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, palace-temple garden with flowering plants, devotee stepping back from plucking after bath, attendants holding prepared offerings, fine detailing of flora and textiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: दन्तच्छेदनमुष्णम् → दन्तच्छेदनम् + उष्णम्; गृह्णीयाद् → गृह्णीयात्; देवायोग्यन्तदीरितं → देवायोग्यम् + तत् + ईरितम् (पाठभेद/सन्धि-विच्छेद).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 166 (Varṇa-dharma/ācāra context); Agni Purana pūjā-vidhi sections on śauca and upacāras
FAQs
It gives śauca (purity) rules for worship/vow-periods: avoid tooth-cleaning and hot intake, and do not pluck flowers after bathing for use in deity-offerings.
Alongside theology, the Agni Purana catalogs practical ritual protocols—fine-grained do’s and don’ts for offerings and bodily discipline—typical of its wide-ranging, handbook-like coverage of religious life.
The instruction frames worship as dependent on bodily and offering-purity; avoiding these acts is presented as maintaining the offering’s fitness (devayog्यता), supporting ritual merit and preventing impurity from entering the rite.