Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 15
अध्याय ७३: सूर्यपूजाविधिः
Sūrya-pūjā-vidhi — The Procedure for Sun-Worship
मूलं जप्त्वार्घ्यपात्राम्बु दत्वा सूर्याय संस्तुतिः नत्वा पराङ्मुखञ्चार्कं क्षमस्वेति ततो वदेत्
mūlaṃ japtvārghyapātrāmbu datvā sūryāya saṃstutiḥ natvā parāṅmukhañcārkaṃ kṣamasveti tato vadet
เมื่อสวดมูลมนตร์แล้ว ถวายน้ำจากภาชนะอรฺฆยะแด่พระสุริยะ และกล่าวสรรเสริญพระสุริยะ จากนั้นนอบน้อมต่ออรกะ (ดวงอาทิตย์) แล้วหันหน้าออก กล่าวต่อไปว่า “กฺษมสฺวะ—โปรดอภัย”
Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purana narrator) instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Daily Saura arghya with kṣamāpaṇa (asking forgiveness) to close the rite without doṣa from mistakes, gaze, timing, or impurity.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Sūryārghya with Kṣamāpaṇa (Turning Away and Asking Forgiveness)","lookup_keywords":["sūryārghya","mūla-mantra","kṣamāpaṇa","parāṅmukha","arka-stuti"],"quick_summary":"After japa of the root-mantra, offer arghya-water to Sūrya, recite praise, bow, then turn away and explicitly request forgiveness to neutralize ritual faults."}
Concept: Kriyā-śuddhi through kṣamā (acknowledging human error in ritual) and respectful disengagement (parāṅmukhatā) after darśana.
Application: End worship with explicit kṣamāpaṇa to prevent anxiety about omissions and to maintain ritual discipline.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Surya-arghya & Prayaschitta / Kshamapana)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A worshipper at dawn holds an arghya vessel, offers water to the rising Sun, chants a root-mantra and stuti, bows, then turns slightly away and speaks a forgiveness formula.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, dawn sky with radiant Sūrya mandala, devotee in white dhoti offering arghya from a bronze vessel, palm-leaf mantra text hinted, serene temple courtyard, rich reds and ochres, traditional flat shading.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central golden Sūrya disc with ornate halo, devotee offering arghya, embossed gold work on the solar aura and vessel, jewel-like colors, devotional composition.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean linework showing stepwise ritual: japa beads, arghya vessel, bowing posture, then turning away for kṣamāpaṇa; soft pastel background, instructional clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, terrace at sunrise, fine architectural details, devotee offering water to the Sun, calligraphic caption ‘kṣamāsveti’, delicate gradients in sky, naturalistic vessel and posture."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: japtvārghyapātrāmbu = japtvā + arghya-pātra-ambu; parāṅmukhañcārkaṃ = parāṅmukham + ca + arkam; kṣamasveti = kṣamasva + iti.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 73 (Sūryapūjā context); Agni Purana 74 (transition to Śivapūjā procedures)
FAQs
It gives a precise sequence for Sūrya-upāsanā: recite the root-mantra, offer arghya-water to the Sun, recite a praise-hymn, then perform kṣamāpanā by bowing and saying “kṣamasva” (forgive me).
It functions as a compact ritual manual (pūjā-vidhi), showing the Agni Purana’s practical coverage of daily worship procedures alongside its many other domains (dharma, polity, arts, and sacred observances).
The closing “kṣamasva” frames the rite with humility and expiation—seeking pardon for omissions or errors in worship—supporting ritual purity and reducing fault (doṣa) accrued through imperfect performance.