Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 12
Chapter 156 — द्रव्यशुद्धिः (Dravya-śuddhi) / Purification of Substances
रथ्यामाक्रम्य चाचामेद्वासो विपरिधाय च मार्जारश् चङ्क्रमाच्छुद्धश् चतुर्य्थे ऽह्नि रजस्वला
rathyāmākramya cācāmedvāso viparidhāya ca mārjāraś caṅkramācchuddhaś caturythe 'hni rajasvalā
เมื่อก้าวลงสู่ถนนหรือทางสาธารณะแล้ว พึงทำอาจมนะ (ล้างปากตามพิธี) และสวมผ้าใหม่ที่สะอาด; อีกทั้งเมื่อแมวเดินผ่าน (สิ่งใด) สิ่งนั้นนับว่าบริสุทธิ์ได้ และสตรีมีระดูย่อมบริสุทธิ์ในวันที่สี่
Lord Agni (in discourse to Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Rules for restoring ritual purity after contact with public spaces and specific impurity triggers; menstrual observance timeline for eligibility in rites.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Shauca Rules: Street-Contact, Cat-Contact, and Menstrual Purity (Rajasvalā)","lookup_keywords":["rathyā","ācamana","mārjāra","rajasvalā","fourth day purity"],"quick_summary":"Defines quick purifications: after stepping onto a public way, perform ācamana and change clothes; objects crossed by a cat are considered purified; menstruation-related impurity ends on the fourth day (as stated here)."}
Concept: Ritual/social purity is maintained through prescribed acts (ācamana, fresh clothing) and time-bound observances (rajasvalā śuddhi).
Application: Before worship, cooking for rites, or entering sacred spaces: do ācamana and change clothes after public exposure; follow the stated day-count for menstrual eligibility in ritual contexts.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra (Shauca/Ashauca—ritual purity and women’s observances)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A woman returning from the public street performs ācamana and changes into fresh garments; a domestic scene shows a cat walking over an item, with the household treating it as purified; a calendar-like indication of the fourth day of menstruation as purity-restoration.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: interior household threshold scene—woman at a water pot doing ācamana, fresh cloth folded nearby; cat walking across a mat; symbolic four-day motif (four lamps) indicating rajasvalā śuddhi; warm tones, stylized figures.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: central female figure with ornate sari changing to fresh cloth, gold-highlighted water vessel for ācamana; small side vignette of a cat crossing an object; decorative border with four lotus medallions for the fourth day.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: didactic domestic panel—step onto street → ācamana → fresh clothing; separate small panel: cat-contact rule; separate panel: four-day count; fine linework and clear sequencing.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: courtyard with a woman washing hands/mouth at a basin, attendant holding fresh garments; cat strolling across a cloth; subtle marginalia showing four-day tally; refined architectural detail."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: rathyāmākramya = rathyām + ākramya; cācāmet = ca + ācāmet; caṅkramācchuddhaḥ in the given text appears irregular; taken as ca + (aṅkramāt) + śuddhaḥ; 'hni = ahni (avagraha).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 156 (women’s śauca and general śauca rules)
FAQs
It gives śauca-vidhi: purification by ācamana and changing garments after contact with public spaces, and specifies the purification period for a rajasvalā as the fourth day.
It exemplifies the text’s dharma-śāstra layer—cataloguing practical rules of purity/impurity, household observances, and social conduct alongside its many other disciplines.
Following prescribed śauca is treated as maintaining ritual fitness (adhikāra) for worship and daily rites, reducing doṣa associated with impurity and restoring eligibility for religious acts.