Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 3
Chapter 69 — स्नानविधानम्
Rules for Ritual Bathing / Snapanotsava-vidhi
स्नानद्रव्याण्यथाहृत्य कलशांश्चापि विन्यसेत् अधिवास्य सूत्रकण्ठान् धारयेन्मण्डले घटान्
snānadravyāṇyathāhṛtya kalaśāṃścāpi vinyaset adhivāsya sūtrakaṇṭhān dhārayenmaṇḍale ghaṭān
ต่อจากนั้นให้นำเครื่องสรงน้ำมาพร้อม และจัดวางกาลศะ/หม้อน้ำให้เป็นระเบียบ ครั้นทำพิธีอธิวาสะให้ศักดิ์สิทธิ์แล้ว พึงตั้งหม้อไว้ในมณฑลพิธี และผูกพวงด้าย/สายสิญจน์ไว้ที่คอหม้อ
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in ritual procedure)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Vastu","practical_application":"Kalasha-sthāpana for snāna/abhiṣeka: gather bathing materials, arrange and consecrate pots, adorn with thread-garlands, and place them within the maṇḍala for ritual use.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Kalasha-sthāpana in Snāna-vidhāna: Adhivāsana, Sūtra-kaṇṭha, and Maṇḍala Placement","lookup_keywords":["kalasha-sthāpana","snāna-dravya","adhivāsana","sūtra-kaṇṭha","maṇḍala"],"quick_summary":"Bring the bathing substances, set out the kalaśas, consecrate them (adhivāsana), tie thread-garlands at their necks, and place the pots within the maṇḍala to serve as ritually charged waters for the ceremony."}
Concept: Saṃskāra (consecration) transforms ordinary objects (pots, threads, water) into carriers of sacred function through intention and rite.
Application: Standardize festival preparation: ensure all snāna-dravyas are ready, kalaśas are ritually sealed by adhivāsana, and placement is orderly to prevent confusion during abhiṣeka.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Kalasha-sthapana and Mandala-ritual procedures)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Temple
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Priests bring fragrant bath materials, line up kalaśas, perform consecration over them, tie thread-garlands around their necks, and place them precisely inside a drawn maṇḍala.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, close-up of decorated pots with thread garlands, priests performing adhivāsana with hand gestures, geometric maṇḍala beneath, earthy palette and stylized ornamentation.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, richly decorated kalaśas with gold highlights, threads and flowers, symmetrical arrangement on maṇḍala, temple setting with ornate pillars, luminous festive feel.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, technical clarity: labeled bath materials, stepwise depiction of tying sūtra-kaṇṭha and placing pots in maṇḍala, fine linework and soft shading.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed still-life of ritual vessels and threads, attendants arranging pots on an intricate floor diagram, delicate patterns and refined interior architecture."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: snānadravyāṇyathāhṛtya = snāna-dravyāṇi atha āhṛtya; kalaśāṃścāpi = kalaśān ca api; dhārayenmaṇḍale = dhārayet maṇḍale.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 69 (snāna-vidhāna: kumbha/maṇḍala procedures)
FAQs
It teaches the practical sequence for a puja setup: procure snāna materials, arrange the kalaśas, consecrate them (adhivāsa), adorn them with neck-threads, and install them within the maṇḍala.
Beyond mythology, the Agni Purana preserves step-by-step liturgical technology—mandala layout, kalasha installation, and consecration mechanics—serving as a procedural manual for temple and domestic ritual practice.
Correct kalasha and maṇḍala installation sanctifies the ritual space, supports purity (śauca) and successful invocation, and is treated as a merit-bearing act that stabilizes the efficacy (siddhi) of the worship.