Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 39
Chapter 78 — पवित्रारोहणकथनं
Pavitrārohaṇa: Installing the Sanctifying Thread/Garland
शरेण चर्मणा देयं पूर्वतो दन्तधावनं तस्माद्घोरशिखाभ्यां वा दक्षिणे पश्चिमे मृदं
śareṇa carmaṇā deyaṃ pūrvato dantadhāvanaṃ tasmādghoraśikhābhyāṃ vā dakṣiṇe paścime mṛdaṃ
พึงหันหน้าไปทางทิศตะวันออก แล้วทำความสะอาดฟันด้วยกิ่งไม้สำหรับขัดฟัน (ศร/ทันตกาษฐะ) และใช้หนัง (จรมะ) เป็นเครื่องประกอบ จากนั้นพึงหยิบดินชำระ (มฤท) ด้วย “โฆรศิขา” (นิ้วชี้และนิ้วกลาง) หรือทำตามแบบแผน โดยใช้ทางด้านขวาหรือด้านทิศตะวันตกตามที่กำหนด
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Ayurveda","practical_application":"Daily śauca routine: directionality for dantadhāvana (facing east), tools used, and prescribed handling/application of cleansing earth (mṛd) with specific fingers and sides.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Śauca: dantadhāvana facing east and mṛd-grahaṇa/application rules","lookup_keywords":["śauca","dantadhāvana","prāṅmukha","mṛd","ācamanādi"],"quick_summary":"Perform tooth-cleaning facing east with the prescribed implement, then take cleansing earth in the specified manner and apply it according to the stated directional/side rule as part of daily purification."}
Concept: External purity (bāhya-śauca) supports ritual eligibility and mental clarity; direction and method are part of dhārmic discipline.
Application: Adopt consistent morning purification habits before pūjā, japa, or homa.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Shauca/Achamana & daily purification rites)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"At dawn, a practitioner faces east near a water source, cleaning teeth with a twig; afterward, he takes cleansing earth with specified fingers and applies it as prescribed before further rites.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, sunrise in the east, figure facing east holding dantakāṣṭha, water pot nearby, small heap of mṛd, hands showing finger positions, simple domestic courtyard","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-tinted sunrise halo, devotee with twig and water vessel, ornate border, emphasis on purity objects (kamandalu, lota), rich colors","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional depiction with clear hand gestures for taking mṛd, east-direction indicator, sequential panels for tooth-cleaning then cleansing-earth application","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, morning courtyard scene with garden, figure facing rising sun brushing with twig, attendant holding water pot, small bowl of earth, fine architectural detail"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Ahir Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: tasmādghoraśikhābhyām = tasmāt + ghoraśikhābhyām.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 78 (ācāra, śauca, pūjā prerequisites)
FAQs
It prescribes a specific shauca practice: tooth-cleaning facing east and the subsequent use of cleansing earth (mṛd) with designated fingers and directional placement as part of daily purification.
Beyond theology, it records practical dharma-shāstra style details—daily hygiene, directionality, and purification materials—showing the text’s coverage of ritual conduct alongside broader religious knowledge.
Observing prescribed cleanliness and direction-based rites is treated as a purifier (śuddhi), supporting ritual eligibility, reducing impurity (aśauca), and accruing merit through disciplined daily conduct.