Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 13
Agnisthāpana-vidhi (Procedure for Establishing the Sacred Fire) and Protective Īśāna-kalpa Homa Sequences
सम्भृतिं परिधानस्य शौचमाचमनं हृदा गर्भाग्नेः पूजनं कृत्वा तद्रक्षार्थं शराणुना
sambhṛtiṃ paridhānasya śaucamācamanaṃ hṛdā garbhāgneḥ pūjanaṃ kṛtvā tadrakṣārthaṃ śarāṇunā
เมื่อเตรียมการนุ่งห่มให้เรียบร้อย ทำความชำระกายและอาจมนะด้วยใจแน่วแน่ แล้วบูชากัรภาคนิ พึงกระทำพิธีคุ้มครองเพื่อรักษาไฟนั้นด้วยศราณุ (ก้านลูกศร/ลำอ้อ)
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Household/inner fire (garbhagni) worship with preparatory purity acts and a specific protective rite using śarāṇu to safeguard the consecrated fire.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Garbhagni-puja with Shauca, Acamana, and Raksha by Sharanu","lookup_keywords":["garbhagni","acamana","shauca","raksha","sharanu"],"quick_summary":"After proper dress-preparation, purification, and mindful ācamana, worship the garbhāgni and perform a protective act with śarāṇu to preserve its sanctity."}
Weapon Type: Arrow-shaft/reed (śarāṇu) used as ritual implement (not combat)
Concept: Outer cleanliness and inner intention (hṛdā) jointly constitute ritual purity; protection preserves continuity of sacred fire.
Application: Standardize pre-ritual hygiene and mindful ācamana; maintain a protected hearth/altar space.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Garbhagni/household fire ritual procedures)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Type: Household (griha)
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A householder-priest, freshly purified, performs ācamana and then worships a small consecrated household fire, touching/marking protection with a śarāṇu implement.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, domestic shrine corner with small fire altar, priest performing acamana, śarāṇu held as protective wand, warm lamp-lit ambience","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, garbhagni in a decorated brazier, gold accents on vessels and altar cloth, priest in reverent pose holding śarāṇu, rich reds and greens","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, stepwise depiction: clothing prep, shauca, acamana, then garbhagni-puja with śarāṇu, clean composition and labeled implements","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate household courtyard, detailed utensils and textiles, small fire altar, priest performing protection gesture with reed/shaft"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: śaucamācamanaṃ = śaucam + ācamanam; tadrakṣārtham = tat + rakṣā-artham (avyayībhāva).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 75 (garbhagni and raksha procedures)
FAQs
It prescribes a sequence for Garbhāgni worship: prepare one’s attire, perform śauca and ācamana with mental focus, then worship the consecrated fire and apply a rakṣā (protective) measure using a śarāṇu implement.
It exemplifies the text’s practical ritual manual character—detailing procedural purity (śauca/ācamana), mental discipline (hṛdā), and specific protective implements—alongside its many other domains like polity, medicine, and martial sciences.
Maintaining purity and correct protection of the sacred fire is treated as safeguarding a living locus of worship; it supports ritual efficacy, removes impurity, and sustains auspiciousness and merit (puṇya) in domestic and consecratory rites.