Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 16
Chapter 63 — सुदर्शनचक्रादिप्रतिष्ठाकथनं
Procedure for Consecrating the Sudarśana Discus and Other Divine Emblems
सम्प्राश्य दक्षिणाभिस्तु गुर्वादीन् भोजयेद्द्विजान् रथेन हस्तिना वापि भ्राम्येत् पुस्तकं नरैः
samprāśya dakṣiṇābhistu gurvādīn bhojayeddvijān rathena hastinā vāpi bhrāmyet pustakaṃ naraiḥ
ครั้นรับประทานแล้ว พึงถวายทักษิณาพร้อมทั้งเลี้ยงดูครูอาจารย์และผู้ควรเคารพ ตลอดจนทวิชะทั้งหลาย และพึงให้คนแห่คัมภีร์นั้นโดยพิธีการ จะบนรถศึกหรือแม้บนช้างก็ได้
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, the standard frame of the Agni Purana)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Guidelines for post-rite hospitality, honoring teachers with dakṣiṇā, feeding brāhmaṇas, and public veneration of a sacred book via ceremonial procession.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Guru-Brāhmaṇa Bhojana, Dakṣiṇā, and Book Procession (Granthayātrā)","lookup_keywords":["dakṣiṇā","guru-pūjā","brāhmaṇa-bhojana","granthayātrā","ratha-hasti"],"quick_summary":"After the rite and meal, honor gurus and brāhmaṇas with feeding and dakṣiṇā, and elevate the book’s status through a public procession on chariot or elephant."}
Concept: Knowledge is sustained by reciprocity: honoring teachers and the learned community is integral to the efficacy and continuity of śāstra.
Application: Institutionalize dana and hospitality around learning—support teachers, sponsor recitations, and create communal visibility for sacred study.
Khanda Section: Dana-dharma & Shastra-puja (Ritual gifting, honoring teachers, and book-veneration practices)
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A festive procession carries a revered manuscript on a chariot or elephant while gurus and brāhmaṇas are honored with food and gifts in a ceremonial setting.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, elephant procession with caparisoned hasti carrying a palanquin-like stand holding a wrapped manuscript, devotees with lamps, gurus seated receiving offerings, bold flat colors and rhythmic figures","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, elephant or chariot with gold-embossed ornaments, manuscript wrapped in silk, donors presenting dakshina to seated gurus, rich gold highlights on jewelry and procession decor","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, narrative panel: feeding line of brāhmaṇas, dakṣiṇā presentation, and a smaller inset showing book on chariot/elephant, refined outlines and gentle shading","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed street procession with elephant and attendants, manuscript on ornate howdah, patrons distributing coins and food to scholars, architectural backdrop and fine textile patterns"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: dakṣiṇābhistu = dakṣiṇābhiḥ + tu; bhojayeddvijān = bhojayet + dvijān; vāpi = vā + api.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 63 (dāna-dharma connected to book worship and recitation)
FAQs
It prescribes a dana-ritual protocol: after the rite-meal, give dakṣiṇā and feed gurus and dvijas, and perform a ceremonial procession/circumambulation of the sacred book (pustaka) using attendants, optionally with a chariot or elephant.
It combines social-ritual ethics (guru and brāhmaṇa hospitality), dana norms (dakṣiṇā), and a concrete practice for safeguarding and venerating textual knowledge (pustaka-procession), showing the Purana’s coverage of both religious conduct and cultural institutions like manuscript reverence.
Honoring gurus and dvijas with food and dakṣiṇā is presented as merit-generating (puṇya) and purificatory, while venerating the book symbolizes devotion to śāstra (sacred knowledge), strengthening dharma and accruing religious merit through respectful preservation of learning.