Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 39
पवित्रारोहणविधिः
The Rite of Raising/Placing the Pavitra
तन्निर्माल्यादिकं तस्मै सपवित्रं समर्पयेत् अथवा स्थण्डिले चण्डं विधिना पूर्ववद्यजेत्
tannirmālyādikaṃ tasmai sapavitraṃ samarpayet athavā sthaṇḍile caṇḍaṃ vidhinā pūrvavadyajet
ให้ถวายของอย่างนฤมาลยะเป็นต้นแก่ท่านนั้นพร้อมปวิตรกะ; หรือบนสถัณฑิละ (แท่นดิน) ให้บูชาพระจัณฑะตามระเบียบเช่นที่กำหนดไว้ก่อนหน้า.
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s ritual sections)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Protocol for handling nirmālya (consecrated remnants) and pavitra: offering them to the proper recipient (Caṇḍeśvara/authorized locus), or alternatively performing Caṇḍa worship on a sthaṇḍila following earlier rules.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Nirmālya Offering with Pavitra; Alternative Sthaṇḍila Worship of Caṇḍa","lookup_keywords":["nirmālya","pavitra","caṇḍeśvara","sthaṇḍila","bali/naivedya"],"quick_summary":"Consecrated remnants should be formally offered along with the pavitra; alternatively, Caṇḍa may be worshiped on an earthen altar using the previously taught procedure."}
Concept: Sacred remnants are not ‘waste’ but regulated ritual property; correct transfer/offering preserves śuddhi and avoids aparādha.
Application: Do not discard nirmālya casually; offer/assign it according to temple rule, or perform the sanctioned alternative worship on a prepared altar.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Ritual worship procedure; offerings and bali/naivedya protocol)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A priest presents garlands and other consecrated remnants together with a pavitra to the designated deity/authority; alternatively, he prepares a square earthen sthaṇḍila altar and performs Caṇḍa worship as per earlier steps.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, priest holding a bundle of nirmālya garlands and a pavitra thread, offering at a small fierce attendant shrine; alternate corner shows a neatly drawn sthaṇḍila with ritual lines, lamps, and flowers","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold accents on garlands and pavitra, offering scene before Caṇḍeśvara, with a secondary vignette of an earthen altar marked with sacred geometry","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, didactic layout: close-up of nirmālya + pavitra offering, then step-by-step sthaṇḍila preparation (smearing, marking, placing offerings), soft colors and clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed textiles and vessels, priest offering garlands and thread-ring, earthen altar with precise geometry, architectural courtyard backdrop"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तन्निर्माल्यादिकं = तत्-निर्माल्य-आदिकम्. सपवित्रं = स-पवित्रम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 79 (bali/naivedya and upadevatā procedures; earlier ‘pūrvavat’ steps referenced here)
FAQs
It teaches the correct handling of nirmālya (consecrated remnants) and the use of pavitra for sanctified offering, and gives an alternative option: performing the worship of Caṇḍa on a sthaṇḍila following the previously defined procedure.
It preserves highly specific liturgical details—what to do with consecrated remnants, how sanctifying implements like pavitra are applied, and how an alternate ground-altar (sthaṇḍila) rite is executed—showing the text’s practical, manual-like coverage of temple and domestic ritual technique.
Correct offering of nirmālya and performance of the rite “according to rule” emphasizes purity, proper transmission of consecrated substances, and adherence to injunctions—understood to preserve ritual efficacy and merit while avoiding impurity or procedural fault (doṣa).