Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 2
पवित्रारोहणविधिः
The Rite of Raising/Placing the Pavitra
समादाय पवित्राणि अविसर्जितदैवतः ऐशान्यां भाजने शुद्धे स्थापयेत् कृतमण्डले
samādāya pavitrāṇi avisarjitadaivataḥ aiśānyāṃ bhājane śuddhe sthāpayet kṛtamaṇḍale
เมื่อรับเอาปวิตระ (ด้าย/วงแหวนชำระ) แล้ว โดยยังไม่ทำวิสรรชนะแด่เทวะที่อัญเชิญมา พึงวางไว้ในภาชนะอันสะอาด ณ ทิศอีศานะ (ตะวันออกเฉียงเหนือ) ภายในมณฑลที่จัดเตรียมแล้ว
Lord Agni (teaching ritual procedure to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Pūjā-maṇḍala setup: handling and placement of pavitra (purificatory thread/ring) without breaking the deity-invocation (avisarjana), using Īśāna (NE) as the auspicious quarter and a śuddha-bhājana (clean vessel).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Pavitra-sthāpana in Īśāna within the maṇḍala (Avisaṛjana rule)","lookup_keywords":["pavitra","īśānya","bhājana","maṇḍala","avisarjana"],"quick_summary":"Keep the deity invoked (do not perform visarjana yet) and place the pavitra in a clean vessel positioned in the NE quarter inside the prepared maṇḍala; this preserves ritual continuity and purity."}
Concept: Ritual continuity (avisaṛjana) and spatial sacrality (dik-niyama) safeguard mantra-devatā presence.
Application: Do not interrupt the invoked deity’s presence while moving/placing ritual implements; maintain directional order and cleanliness to avoid doṣa in worship.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Isana-kalpa / Ritual Procedure and Mandala-setup)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Sacred-direction
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritualist stands before a drawn maṇḍala on the ground; in the north-east quadrant a clean vessel is set, and the pavitra threads/rings are carefully placed into it while the deity remains invoked.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat yet rich colors, priest in white dhoti near a geometric maṇḍala, NE corner highlighted, clean bronze vessel, pavitra threads, subtle Śiva-Īśāna symbolism, sacred calm atmosphere","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, ornate ritual scene with gold leaf accents on the vessel and maṇḍala borders, priest placing pavitra in a shining bhājana at the NE, decorative temple interior cues, auspicious luminosity","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, fine linework and soft shading, instructional clarity: labeled NE (Īśāna) corner, maṇḍala grid, clean vessel placement, priest’s hand gesture placing pavitra, minimal background","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed floor pattern maṇḍala, attendant holding ritual items, priest placing pavitra into a small vessel at the NE, delicate textiles, precise geometry, subdued devotional palette"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अविसर्जितदैवतः = अविसर्जित + दैवतः (समास); कृतमण्डले = कृत + मण्डले (समास).
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa Pūjā-vidhi sections on maṇḍala-lakṣaṇa, āvāhana–sthāpana–saṃnidhāna, pavitrāropaṇa, and visarjana-krama (same khanda context)
FAQs
It gives a precise procedural rule for pavitra-handling: keep the deity still invoked (do not perform visarjana) and place the pavitras in a clean vessel positioned in the north-east (Īśāna) within the prepared maṇḍala.
It exemplifies the Agni Purana’s manual-like coverage of ritual engineering—directional prescriptions, purity rules, and object placement—alongside its many other domains (statecraft, medicine, weapon-science, poetics).
Maintaining the deity’s invoked presence and using a purified vessel in the auspicious Īśāna quarter safeguards ritual purity (śauca) and continuity (saṃbandha), supporting the intended merit (puṇya) and efficacy (siddhi) of the worship.