Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 3
Chapter 72 — स्नानविशेषादिकथनम्
Special Rules of Bathing, Mantra-Purification, and Sandhyā
तृणानि शिखयोद्धृत्य वर्मणा विभजेत्त्रिधा एकया नाभिपादान्तं प्रक्षाल्य पुनरन्यया
tṛṇāni śikhayoddhṛtya varmaṇā vibhajettridhā ekayā nābhipādāntaṃ prakṣālya punaranyayā
ให้ดึงใบหญ้าออกโดยจับที่ปลายยอด แล้วด้วยวรรฺมะ (เครื่องปกป้อง/ผ้าพัน) แบ่งเป็นสามส่วน ด้วยส่วนหนึ่งชำระล้างตั้งแต่สะดือถึงปลายเท้า แล้วด้วยอีกส่วนหนึ่งชำระล้างซ้ำอีกครั้ง۔
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Practical śauca technique using grass blades: divide into three and wash specific body regions in sequence for ritual cleanliness.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Tṛṇa-prakṣālana: grass portions for sequential washing","lookup_keywords":["tṛṇa","śikhā","prakṣālana","nābhi-pādānta","śauca"],"quick_summary":"Use tip-plucked grass divided into three portions to wash the body in a prescribed order, supporting standardized ritual purity before worship."}
Concept: Ritual purity is enacted through ordered bodily practice (kriyā) and attention to prescribed detail.
Application: Follow a consistent washing sequence and use clean natural implements when preparing for pūjā or vrata observances.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Shauca-kalpa (Ritual Purification Procedures)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritualist plucks grass by the tips, divides it into three portions, and uses one portion to wash from navel to feet, then repeats with another portion as instructed.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: close-up of hands holding grass blades, dividing into three bundles, then washing legs at a bathing spot; stylized anatomy, clear gesture emphasis, minimal background","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: ritualist seated near a water vessel, three grass bundles arranged neatly, gold accents on pot and border, iconic frontal pose showing the washing action","mysore_prompt":"Mysore instructional: diagrammatic sequence with three bundles labeled, arrows indicating washing from nābhi to pāda, delicate linework and readable composition","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: intimate bathing preparation scene with detailed textiles and water pot, the grass bundles shown precisely, naturalistic posture, soft shading"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: शिखयoddhṛtya→शिखया उद्धृत्य. विभजेत्त्रिधा→विभजेत् त्रिधा. नाभिपादान्तं→नाभि-पाद-अन्तम्. पुनरन्यया→पुनः अन्यया.
Related Themes: Agni Purana snāna-vidhi sequence (72.1–72.4); Agni Purana śauca-related instructions in other ācāra sections
FAQs
It teaches a specific shauca procedure: using blades of grass divided into portions to perform a prescribed washing of the lower body (from navel to feet) in a methodical, repeated manner.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purana preserves practical kalpa-style instructions for daily and ceremonial purity—fine-grained procedural details (materials, partitioning, sequence of washing) typical of an encyclopedic ritual manual.
Ritual washing (śauca) is treated as a prerequisite for worship and sacred acts; performing it correctly is understood to remove impurity (aśauca/mala), making the practitioner fit (adhikārin) for mantra, pūjā, and other meritorious observances.