Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 5
Chapter 78 — पवित्रारोहणकथनं
Pavitrārohaṇa: Installing the Sanctifying Thread/Garland
कलौ कार्पासजं चापि पट्टपद्मादिसूत्रकं प्रणवश् चन्द्रमा वह्निर्ब्रह्मा नागो गुहो हरिः
kalau kārpāsajaṃ cāpi paṭṭapadmādisūtrakaṃ praṇavaś candramā vahnirbrahmā nāgo guho hariḥ
ในกลียุค (ปวิตระ) อาจทำด้วยฝ้ายได้ด้วย; และอาจทำด้วยไหม เส้นใยบัว และด้ายชนิดอื่น ๆ ด้วย (นามเทวะที่กำหนดคือ:) ปรณวะ (โอม) พระจันทร์ ไฟ (อัคนี) พรหมา นาคะ คุหะ (การ์ตติเกยะ) และหริ (วิษณุ)
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purāṇa frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Choose acceptable pavitra thread materials in Kali-yuga and apply correct divine ‘saṅketa’/name-mantra mapping during worship and installation rites.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Kali-yuga pavitra thread materials and devatā-saṅketas","lookup_keywords":["kalau kārpāsa","paṭṭa sūtra","padma-sūtra","praṇava saṅketa","deva-nāma mapping"],"quick_summary":"In Kali-yuga, pavitra threads may be cotton, silk, lotus-fibre, etc. The verse also lists key divine designations (saṅketas)—Oṃ, Moon, Fire, Brahmā, Nāga, Guha, Hari—used in mantra-identification within the rite."}
Concept: Yuga-adaptation (anukalpa) in ritual materials while preserving mantra-identity through saṅketa; substance may vary, intention and mantra-structure remain constant.
Application: When traditional materials are unavailable, substitute permitted fibres (cotton/silk/lotus) and maintain correct mantra-saṅketa recitation to preserve ritual integrity.
Khanda Section: Nāma-mantra & Devatā-saṅketas (Pūjā-vidhi / Mantra-śāstra)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A tray displays different threads—cotton, silk, lotus-fibre—beside a ritual altar; above, symbolic emblems label the saṅketas: Oṃ, moon-disc, fire-flame, Brahmā, nāga, Skanda/Guha, and Viṣṇu/Hari.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, close-up ritual still-life: spools of cotton and silk, lotus fibres, priest’s hands preparing a pavitra thread, symbolic icons (Oṃ, moon, flame, nāga) in stylized medallions, warm lamp-lit palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, ornate altar with gold foil, pavitra thread garland highlighted, small gold medallions showing Oṃ, moon, fire, Brahmā, nāga, Guha, Hari; rich reds/greens and heavy ornamentation.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional layout with neatly arranged thread samples and labeled saṅketa symbols, delicate linework, soft colors, emphasis on clarity and ritual tools.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, artisan and priest selecting threads from a box of textiles, manuscript margin showing saṅketa emblems, fine detailing of fibres and patterns, subdued elegant palette."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चापि→च अपि; वह्निर्ब्रह्मा→वह्निः ब्रह्मा (visarga sandhi); paṭṭapadmādisūtrakaṃ→paṭṭa-padma-ādi-sūtrakam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 78 (pavitra materials/mantras in adjacent verses)
FAQs
It gives a Kali-yuga allowance for acceptable yajñopavīta (sacred-thread) materials—cotton, silk, lotus-fibre, etc.—and lists key devatā-designations (Praṇava, Chandra, Agni, Brahmā, Nāga, Guha, Hari) used as sacred names in ritual contexts.
It combines practical dharma/ritual regulation (permitted materials by era) with mantra-theology (standard divine epithets), illustrating how the Agni Purāṇa catalogs both procedural ritual details and doctrinal name-lists side by side.
By permitting alternative pure materials in Kali-yuga, the text preserves continuity of Vedic-ritual identity and purity when ideal resources are scarce, supporting lawful practice and the intended merit (puṇya) of rites performed with proper symbols and divine remembrance.