Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 6
Chapter 64 — कूपादिप्रतिष्ठाकथनं
The Account of the Consecration of Wells and Other Water-Works
वरुणं स्नानपीठे तु ये ते शतेति संस्पृशेत् घृतेनाभ्यञ्जयेत् पश्चान्मूलमन्त्रेण देशिकः
varuṇaṃ snānapīṭhe tu ye te śateti saṃspṛśet ghṛtenābhyañjayet paścānmūlamantreṇa deśikaḥ
บนแท่นสรง พิธีกร (เทศิกะ) พึงแตะเพื่ออัญเชิญวรุณะพร้อมสวดวลี “เย เต ศตัม…” แล้วจึงชโลมด้วยเนยใสโดยใช้มูลมนตร์
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in ritual procedure)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Ritual bathing (snāna/abhiṣeka) protocol: invoke Varuṇa with a specific Vedic formula, then perform ghṛta-abhyanga using the deity’s mūla-mantra under the guidance of the officiant.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Snāna-pīṭha Varuṇa-sparśa (Ye te śatam) and Ghṛta-abhyanga with Mūla-mantra","lookup_keywords":["snāna-pīṭha","Varuṇa","ye te śatam","ghṛta-abhyanga","mūla-mantra"],"quick_summary":"During ritual bathing, first invoke Varuṇa with the ‘ye te śatam…’ formula, then anoint with ghee while reciting the root-mantra to sanctify and stabilize the rite."}
Dosha: Vata
Concept: Mantra + kriyā (touch/anointing) integrates intention, speech, and action to effect saṃskāra (consecratory transformation).
Application: Perform rites with sequential discipline: invocation (āhvāna/sparśa) first, then the physical saṃskāra (abhyanga) under the correct mantra.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Snana-vidhi / Deva-pratishtha and ritual bathing procedures)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A consecrated bathing platform where the officiant touches/invokes Varuṇa with mantra, then anoints the deity or ritual subject with ghee while reciting the mūla-mantra.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, snāna-pīṭha with ritual vessels, priest (deśika) performing sparśa-mudrā, stylized Varuṇa presence suggested by water motifs, then ghṛta anointing, muted sacred palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, deity on snāna-pīṭha with gold halo elements, priest applying ghee, ornate vessels, water-wave motifs for Varuṇa, rich gold work","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear depiction of sequential steps: touch-invocation then ghee anointing, labeled ritual items, delicate lines and soft shading","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, realistic ghee vessel and ladle, priest applying anointing, attendants holding water pots, architectural bathing platform with fine textile patterns"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Malkauns","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: śateti = śatā + iti (ā + i → e); ghṛtenābhyañjayet = ghṛtena + abhyañjayet (a + a → ā); paścānmūlamantreṇa = paścāt + mūlamantreṇa (t + m → nm).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 64 (snāna-vidhi, abhiṣeka, mūla-mantra usage)
FAQs
It teaches a specific snāna-vidhi sequence: invoke Varuṇa on the snāna-pīṭha using the “ye te śatam…” mantra-incipit, then perform ghee anointing (abhyaṅga) using the rite’s principal (mūla) mantra under the guidance of the deśika.
It preserves operational temple-ritual details—mantra cues, the order of actions (touching/invocation → anointing), and the officiant’s role—showing the Purana as a practical manual for liturgy alongside its mythic and doctrinal material.
Varuṇa-invocation aligns the rite with the purifying power of waters, while mūla-mantra-led anointing sanctifies the act as deity-centered worship; together they are intended to remove ritual impurity and stabilize the consecratory efficacy of the ceremony.