Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 41
Chapter 64 — कूपादिप्रतिष्ठाकथनं
The Account of the Consecration of Wells and Other Water-Works
आपो हि ष्ठेति तिसृभिः शान्तितोयं द्विजैः कृतं तीर्थतोयं क्षिपेत् पुण्यं गोकुलञ्चार्पयेद्विजान्
āpo hi ṣṭheti tisṛbhiḥ śāntitoyaṃ dvijaiḥ kṛtaṃ tīrthatoyaṃ kṣipet puṇyaṃ gokulañcārpayedvijān
ด้วยสามมนต์ที่ขึ้นต้นว่า ‘อาโป หิ ษฺฐา…’ ให้ทวิชะจัดทำน้ำศานติ (śānti-water) แล้วจึงใส่น้ำจากทีรถะเป็นกุศล และถวายโคกุล/ทานโคแก่ทวิชะทั้งหลาย
Lord Agni (in discourse to the sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the Agni Purana’s common narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Prepare śānti-water by reciting the three ṛks beginning ‘Āpo hi ṣṭhā…’; combine with tīrtha-water for enhanced sanctity; perform go-dāna to dvijas as a merit-bearing act.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Śānti-toya with ‘Āpo hi ṣṭhā’ and tīrtha-jala; go-dāna","lookup_keywords":["Apo hi stha","shanti-toya","tirtha-jala","go-dana","dvija"],"quick_summary":"Use the ‘Āpo hi ṣṭhā’ triad to consecrate pacificatory water, add sacred pilgrimage-water, and complete the rite with cow-gift to brāhmaṇas for accruing puṇya."}
Alamkara Type: Anuvāda (scriptural citation)
Concept: Mantra and intention sacralize ordinary elements (water) into instruments of peace (śānti) and merit (puṇya).
Application: In rites of appeasement and purification, employ Vedic water-mantras and pair them with ethical acts (dāna), not mantra alone.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Shanti, Tirtha, Dana-vidhi)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Type: Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Brāhmaṇas chant ‘Āpo hi ṣṭhā’ over a water vessel, then a small vial of tīrtha-water is poured in; a cow (or symbolic cow-gift) is presented respectfully to the brāhmaṇas.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, priests chanting beside a kalasha of water with sacred threads, a small conch or vial adding tīrtha-water, cow-gift scene in the same panel, temple tank hinted in background, dignified serenity.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf kalasha and conch, brāhmaṇas with palm-leaf texts, donor offering a decorated cow with ornaments, rich temple setting, luminous sacred atmosphere.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear didactic layout: mantra-recitation over water, then mixing tīrtha-jala, then go-dāna; fine lines, gentle colors, emphasis on ritual objects (kalasha, spoon, cow).","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly donor presenting a cow to learned men, detailed vessels and textiles, a small scene of water consecration with chanting figures, architectural pavilion and distant river/ghat."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ष्ठेति→ष्ठा + इति (वैदिक ‘ष्ठा’); गोकुलञ्चार्पयेद्विजान्→गोकुलम् + च + अर्पयेत् + द्विजान्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: mantra sections citing Vedic ṛks for śānti; Agni Purana: go-dāna and dana-mahatmya passages
FAQs
It teaches a śānti-vidhi: preparing pacificatory water by reciting the three ‘Āpo hi ṣṭhā…’ verses, mixing/adding tīrtha-water for sanctity, and completing the rite with dāna—especially go-dāna to brāhmaṇas.
It exemplifies the text’s practical ritual manuals—linking Vedic mantra-application, tīrtha practices, and prescribed charity (dāna) as an integrated method for purification and merit, alongside the Purana’s many other disciplines.
The mantra-consecrated water is meant to pacify impurities/inauspiciousness (śānti), while tīrtha-water and go-dāna amplify puṇya (religious merit) and support the sacred order through gifts to qualified brāhmaṇas.