Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 5
Chapter 70 — वृक्षादिप्रतिष्ठाकथनम्
Consecration of Trees and Related Objects
ऋग्यजुःसाममन्त्रैश् च वारुणैर् मङ्गलै रवैः वृक्षवेदिककुम्भकैश् च स्नपनं द्विजपुङ्गवाः
ṛgyajuḥsāmamantraiś ca vāruṇair maṅgalai ravaiḥ vṛkṣavedikakumbhakaiś ca snapanaṃ dvijapuṅgavāḥ
โอผู้ประเสริฐในหมู่ทวิชะ พึงทำสฺนาปนะ (การสรงอภิเษก) ด้วยมนตร์แห่งฤค ยชุร สาม ด้วยมนตร์วรุณะ ด้วยเสียงมงคล และด้วยน้ำจากหม้อกุมภะที่ตั้งบนเวทิกาไม้สำหรับต้นไม้
Lord Agni
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi (Snāpana/Abhiṣeka)","practical_application":"Perform snāpana (consecratory bathing) using Ṛg/Yajus/Sāman mantras, Varuṇa mantras, auspicious instrumental/vocal sounds, and multiple kumbhas arranged on a wooden/altar platform—standard protocol for sanctifying the installed object.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Snāpana with Vedic & Varuṇa Mantras, Maṅgala-rava, and Vedikā-Kumbhas","lookup_keywords":["snāpana","ṛg-yajuḥ-sāma","vāruṇa-mantra","maṅgala-rava","vedikā-kumbha"],"quick_summary":"Consecratory bathing is done by combining Vedic recitation (Ṛg/Yajur/Sāma), Varuṇa-focused purification mantras, auspicious sounds, and water from kumbhas placed on a vedikā to complete ritual sanctification."}
Concept: Sound (mantra, maṅgala-rava) and water (snāpana) together effect saṃskāra—purifying, stabilizing, and ‘seating’ sacred presence in the consecrated support.
Application: In ritual practice, coordinate recitation, music/auspicious sounds, and systematic water-pot arrangement to maintain rhythm, purity, and completeness of abhiṣeka/snāpana.
Khanda Section: Pūjā-vidhi (Ritual Purification and Consecration Rites)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A wooden/altar platform (vedikā) holding multiple water pots; priests chant Ṛg/Yajus/Sāman and Varuṇa mantras while pouring water in snāpana; musicians or attendants create auspicious sounds (conch, drums, bells).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, symmetrical vedikā with rows of kumbhas, priests chanting, conch and drum players producing maṅgala-rava, flowing water rendered in stylized curves, temple interior palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-highlighted kumbhas and ornaments, priest performing snāpana with shimmering water streams, conch and bell in attendants’ hands, rich temple backdrop with gold work.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, technical clarity: vedikā layout with kumbhas, priest pouring water, another reciting from Vedic text, musicians with conch and mṛdaṅga, fine detailing and soft colors.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly ritual scene with multiple pots on a platform, priests chanting, attendants with instruments, delicate depiction of water pouring, architectural arches and patterned carpets."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ṛgyajuḥsāmamantraiś → ṛg-yajuḥ-sāma-mantraiḥ; vāruṇair → vāruṇaiḥ; maṅgalai ravaiḥ → maṅgalaiḥ + ravaiḥ; vṛkṣavedikakumbhkaiś → vṛkṣa-vedikā-kumbhakaiḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: abhiṣeka/snāpana procedures; kumbha-sthāpana; mantra-nyāsa and pūjā-upacāra sequences in related chapters
FAQs
It prescribes the snāpana (consecratory bathing/ablution) procedure using tri-vedic mantras (Ṛg–Yajur–Sāma), Varuṇa-related purification mantras, auspicious acclamations, and kumbhas arranged on a wooden vedikā.
By documenting a precise, implement-based ritual protocol (mantra sources, deity-association with Varuṇa, sound-rites, and ritual apparatus like kumbha and vedikā), it shows the text functioning as a practical manual of temple and domestic liturgy alongside its many other disciplines.
Snāpana with Vedic and Varuṇa mantras is framed as a purification-and-consecration act: it ritually removes impurity, establishes auspiciousness (maṅgala), and sanctifies the rite/recipient, supporting merit (puṇya) and ritual fitness (adhikāra).