Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 45
Chapter 72 — स्नानविशेषादिकथनम्
Special Rules of Bathing, Mantra-Purification, and Sandhyā
सर्वेभ्यो भूतेभ्यो वौषट् भूतान् देवपितॄनथ दक्षस्कन्धोपवीती च कुशमूलाग्रतस्तिलैः
sarvebhyo bhūtebhyo vauṣaṭ bhūtān devapitṝnatha dakṣaskandhopavītī ca kuśamūlāgratastilaiḥ
เมื่อกล่าวว่า “วौษट แด่สรรพสัตว์ทั้งปวง” แล้วจึงถวายเครื่องบูชาแก่หมู่ภูต แด่เทพ และแด่บรรพชน โดยพาดสายศักดิ์สิทธิ์ไว้เหนือบ่าขวา และใช้หญ้ากุศะที่มีทั้งโคนและปลายร่วมกับเมล็ดงาในการประกอบพิธี
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purāṇa’s standard dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Śrāddha–tarpana/bhūta-bali performance: uttering the universal bhūta-offering call, adopting the correct yajñopavīta position (dakṣiṇa-skandha/upavītī), and using kuśa with tila for offerings.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Bhūta–Deva–Pitṛ Offering with Vauṣaṭ and Kuśa–Tila","lookup_keywords":["vauṣaṭ","bhūta-bali","dakṣiṇa-skandha upavītī","kuśa","tila"],"quick_summary":"In pitṛ-yajña context, one begins with a universal oblation to all beings and then offers sequentially to bhūtas, devas, and pitṛs, observing the right-shoulder yajñopavīta and employing kuśa with sesame as ritual media."}
Concept: Ritual reciprocity and universal appeasement: honoring bhūtas, devas, and pitṛs to maintain harmony (ṛta) and familial continuity.
Application: Perform offerings with correct mantra and bodily markers (yajñopavīta position) to avoid doṣa in śrāddha and to ensure intended recipients.
Khanda Section: Pūjā-vidhi / Śrāddha–Tarpana Ritual Procedure (Pitṛ-yajña and Bhūta-bali)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A householder in śrāddha posture, yajñopavīta worn over the right shoulder, holding kuśa with root and tip visible and sprinkling sesame while uttering “Vauṣaṭ” and offering to beings, gods, and ancestors.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, warm earthy palette, a gṛhastha performing pitṛ-yajña, yajñopavīta over right shoulder, kuśa bundle and tila in hand, small offering vessels, subtle presence of bhūtas and pitṛs as translucent figures, flat decorative background.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold leaf highlights, central seated householder near a small homa/offerings tray, ornate vessels, kuśa and sesame emphasized, divine and ancestral figures in halos receiving offerings, rich reds and greens, embossed jewelry details.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, clean linework, instructional clarity: right-shoulder sacred thread position, kuśa held with root-tip orientation, sesame grains shown, labeled offering sequence to bhūtas–devas–pitṛs, muted pastel background.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, domestic courtyard śrāddha scene, fine textiles, small brass vessels, priest guiding, householder with upavīta over right shoulder, kuśa and sesame, faint ethereal recipients above, detailed architectural border."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"ritual-instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: देवपितॄनथ = देवपितॄन् + अथ; दक्षस्कन्धोपवीती = दक्ष-स्कन्ध-उपवीती (समास); कुशमूलाग्रतस्तिलैः = कुशमूलाग्रतः + तिलैः (visarga sandhi).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 72 (Śrāddha–tarpana sequence and mantras)
FAQs
It prescribes a tarpana/oblation sequence—invoking “Vauṣaṭ” for offerings to all beings, then specifically to bhūtas, devas, and pitṛs—together with the correct upavīta placement and the use of kuśa grass and sesame.
It functions as a compact ritual manual: mantra-cue (Vauṣaṭ), recipient-classification (bhūta/deva/pitṛ), and ritual implements (kuśa, tila) with dress-code (upavīta position), exemplifying the Agni Purāṇa’s procedural coverage of dharma and rites.
Correctly directed offerings to beings, gods, and ancestors are taught as a means of purification and debt-repayment (ṛṇa) toward pitṛs and the wider cosmos, supporting auspiciousness and continuity of familial and cosmic order.