Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 3
पवित्रारोहणविधिः
The Rite of Raising/Placing the Pavitra
ततो विसर्ज्य देवेशं निर्माल्यमपनीय च पूर्ववद् भूतले शुद्धेकृत्वाह्निकमथ द्वयं
tato visarjya deveśaṃ nirmālyamapanīya ca pūrvavad bhūtale śuddhekṛtvāhnikamatha dvayaṃ
จากนั้นเมื่อทำวิสรรชนะแด่เทวेशะโดยถูกพิธี และนำเนิร์มาลยะ (เศษดอกไม้และเครื่องบูชาที่ใช้แล้ว) ออกแล้ว พึงประกอบอาหฺนิกะสองประการ คือพิธีเช้าและพิธีเย็น ตามเดิม ณ พื้นดินที่ชำระแล้ว
Lord Agni
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Closure and reset of pūjā: formal visarjana of the deity, removal of nirmālya (used flowers/offerings), purification of the ground, and performance of the two daily sandhyā/āhnika observances.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Visarjana, nirmālya-apaneṣaṇa, and āhnika-dvaya on śuddha-bhūmi","lookup_keywords":["visarjana","nirmālya","śuddha-bhūtala","āhnika","sandhyā"],"quick_summary":"After worship, dismiss the deity properly, remove remnants, purify the place, and resume the regular morning-evening daily rites on a clean spot."}
Concept: Ritual has a proper completion (visarjana) and cleanliness discipline; daily dharma (āhnika/sandhyā) continues as the baseline sādhana.
Application: Avoid leaving invoked presence ‘open-ended’; dispose of nirmālya respectfully and keep the worship area clean before undertaking daily rites.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Ritual procedure and daily observances)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A completed pūjā: the priest gestures visarjana, then gathers wilted flowers and used offerings (nirmālya) into a basket; the ground is sprinkled/cleaned, preparing for morning/evening āhnika.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, temple courtyard, priest performing visarjana mudrā, attendants removing garlands, clean swept floor, water pot for purification, serene closure mood","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, gold-highlighted altar now cleared, priest holding a small water vessel, nirmālya collected neatly, emphasis on purity and completion, rich ornamental borders","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, step-by-step instructional tableau: (1) visarjana gesture, (2) nirmālya removal, (3) sprinkling water on bhūtala, clear sequencing and calm palette","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate interior scene: priest dismissing deity, servants removing floral remnants, careful depiction of vessels and textiles, clean ground prepared for āhnika"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: निर्माल्यमपनीय = निर्माल्यम् + अपनीय; शुद्धेकृत्वा = शुद्धे + कृत्वा; कृत्वाह्निकम् = कृत्वा + आह्निकम्; आह्निकमथ = आह्निकम् + अथ.
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa sections on visarjana-mantra/krama, nirmālya-niyama, and sandhyā/āhnika vidhi (within broader pūjā-vidhi and ācāra material)
FAQs
It teaches the correct closure of worship: ritual dismissal (visarjana) of the invoked deity, removal of nirmalya (used offerings), and then performance of the two daily āhnika rites on a purified place.
By preserving procedural detail for worship—how to conclude a rite, handle ritual remnants, and transition into daily observances—this chapter functions like a practical manual of temple/home ritual discipline within the Purana’s broad compendium.
Proper visarjana and removal of nirmalya maintain ritual purity (śauca) and prevent doṣa from improper handling of remnants, while regular āhnika sustains daily merit and disciplined devotional practice.