Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 2
Chapter 72 — स्नानविशेषादिकथनम्
Special Rules of Bathing, Mantra-Purification, and Sandhyā
सर्वात्मना समुद्धृत्य पुनस्तेनैव पूरयेत् शिरसा पयसस्तीरे निधायास्त्रेण शोधयेत्
sarvātmanā samuddhṛtya punastenaiva pūrayet śirasā payasastīre nidhāyāstreṇa śodhayet
เมื่อยกขึ้นมาทั้งหมดแล้ว จงกลบ (หลุม) กลับด้วยสิ่งเดิมนั้นเอง วางไว้ที่ตลิ่งน้ำด้วยการน้อมศีรษะ แล้วชำระให้บริสุทธิ์ด้วยมนตร์อัสตร (มนตร์แห่งอาวุธ)۔
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Ritual handling and purification of collected clay/earth: refill the pit, place the clay at the water’s edge with reverence, and purify it using astra-mantra.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Mṛd-śodhana by Astra-mantra at the waterbank","lookup_keywords":["mṛd-śodhana","astra-mantra","tīra","pūrayet","śirasā"],"quick_summary":"After taking clay, restore the site (ethical/ritual completeness), then consecrate the clay at the waterbank and purify it with the astra-mantra."}
Concept: Śuddhi is both material and intentional: restore what is taken, then sanctify through mantra and humility (śirasā).
Application: In ritual procurement, avoid leaving disruption; use mantra to mark transition from ordinary matter to consecrated implement.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Ritual purification and consecration procedures)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Type: Riverbank/Waterbody edge
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"At a riverbank, the practitioner respectfully places the collected clay, bows the head, refills the dug spot, and performs astra-mantra purification over the clay.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: devotee kneeling at the water’s edge, clay placed on a leaf/plate, hands in ritual gesture, subtle fiery aura indicating astra-mantra, restored earth patch behind, stylized rippling river","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: central figure bowing with clay on a small pedestal near water, gold-leaf highlights for mantra-energy, ornate border, ritual vessels nearby, symmetrical devotional layout","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clear instructional depiction—refilling the pit, placing clay at tīra, performing astra-śodhana with hand mudrā; fine linework, labeled steps, calm palette","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: riverside scene with detailed sandbank and water, devotee bowing, a faint luminous arc over the clay signifying mantra, attendants holding a water pot and cloth, naturalistic landscape"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पुनस्तेनैव→पुनः तेन एव. पयसस्तीरे→पयसः तीरे. निधायास्त्रेण→निधाय अस्त्रेण.
Related Themes: Agni Purana mantra-prayoga passages on astra-śodhana; Agni Purana snāna-vidhi continuation (72.3–72.4) for bodily purification sequence
FAQs
It teaches a practical śodhana (purification) step: remove the item completely, refill it with the same intended substance, place it by water, and purify it using the astra-mantra as a formal ritual cleanser.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purāṇa preserves step-by-step liturgical procedure—how to cleanse and re-consecrate ritual objects—showing its coverage of applied temple/household ritual technology alongside other sciences.
The act of bowing (śirasā) and mantra-based purification signifies humility and removal of ritual impurity, aiming to make the implement fit (śuddha) for worship and thereby ensure the rite yields undiminished religious merit.