Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 19
Chapter 72 — स्नानविशेषादिकथनम्
Special Rules of Bathing, Mantra-Purification, and Sandhyā
स्नानमाग्नेयकं स्पृष्ट्वा शुचा वुद्धूलकं चरेत् सूर्यांशुवर्षसम्पर्कैः प्राङ्मुखेनोर्ध्वबाहुना
snānamāgneyakaṃ spṛṣṭvā śucā vuddhūlakaṃ caret sūryāṃśuvarṣasamparkaiḥ prāṅmukhenordhvabāhunā
ครั้นสัมผัส/ประกอบอาบแบบอัคนేయแล้ว พึงประพฤติ ‘วุทฺธูลกะ’ (อาบด้วยฝุ่นสะอาด) ด้วยความบริสุทธิ์; โดยอาศัยการสัมผัสรัศมีสุริยะและน้ำฝน หันหน้าไปทางทิศตะวันออกและยกแขนขึ้นเหนือศีรษะ
Lord Agni (in instruction to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Agneya bath and dust-bath (uddhūlana) combined with solar and rain contact, performed facing east with uplifted arms—used as a purificatory observance and energizing rite.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Agneya-snāna and śuci-uddhūlana with sunrays and rain (east-facing, arms raised)","lookup_keywords":["agneya-snāna","uddhūlana","sūryāṃśu","varṣa","prāṅmukha"],"quick_summary":"After performing the Agneya bath, roll/cleanse with pure dust and expose oneself to sunrays and rain, facing east with raised arms, as a rite of purification and consecration."}
Concept: Elemental alignment (agni, earth-dust, sun, rain/water) and directional discipline (east-facing) are used to reset ritual state and invoke auspiciousness.
Application: As a vrata-like śauca, combine bath + dust purification + brief exposure to sun/rain at an appropriate clean place, maintaining eastward orientation.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Shaucha-vidhi (Ritual Purification and Bathing Rites)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A practitioner, facing east with arms uplifted, completes an Agneya bath and then performs a clean dust-bath; sunbeams fall from the horizon while light rain descends.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, sunrise on the left (east), sādhaka with raised arms, stylized golden sunrays and silver rain lines, earthy dust foreground, temple-tank edge suggested","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, dramatic gold sunrays, raised-arm posture, textured earth/dust with gold highlights, rain rendered as fine silver-white strokes","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear depiction of posture (prāṅmukha, ūrdhvabāhu), sequence of agneya bath then dust-bath, minimal background for instructional clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, landscape with dawn sky gradient, delicate rain, figure oriented to the rising sun, fine detailing of dust and water droplets"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Suryakant (if available)","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: स्नानमाग्नेयकं = स्नानम् + आग्नेयकम्; प्राङ्मुखेनोर्ध्वबाहुना = प्राङ्मुखेन + ऊर्ध्वबाहुना; सूर्यांशुवर्षसम्पर्कैः = सूर्य-अंशु-वर्ष-सम्पर्कैः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 72 (Snāna varieties; śauca-vidhi)
FAQs
It teaches a specific snāna-procedure: after the Agneya bath, one performs a purificatory “dust-bath,” and then stands facing east with raised arms to receive purification through contact with sunlight and rain.
Alongside theology, the Agni Purana preserves practical manuals—here, detailed bodily/ritual hygiene (śauca) and bathing protocols—showing its role as a compendium of applied religious practice.
The acts described function as expiatory purification: aligning the body with elemental forces (fire/sun and water/rain) and prescribed orientation (east) to remove impurity and support ritual fitness.