Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 60
Chapter 81 — समयदीक्षाविधानम्
Procedure for Samaya Initiation
वस्त्रबद्धमुखायां वा स्थाल्यां पुष्पैर् वहिर्भवैः चुल्ल्यां पश्चिमवक्त्रायां न्यस्तायां मानुषात्मना
vastrabaddhamukhāyāṃ vā sthālyāṃ puṣpair vahirbhavaiḥ cullyāṃ paścimavaktrāyāṃ nyastāyāṃ mānuṣātmanā
หรือในภาชนะสถาลีที่ผูกปากด้วยผ้า พึงใส่ดอกไม้ที่เก็บมาจากภายนอก ภาชนะนั้นให้ผู้ปฏิบัติซึ่งเป็นมนุษย์วางลงบนเตา (จุลลี) โดยหันปากไปทางทิศตะวันตก.
Lord Agni (in the Agni Purana’s instructional narration)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Correct placement and orientation of a cloth-tied ritual pot with flowers, set on the hearth facing west, as part of a homa/pūjā sequence.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Sthālī-sthāpana: Cloth-bound Mouth, External Flowers, West-facing Placement on Hearth","lookup_keywords":["sthālī","vastra-baddha mukha","cullī","paścima-vaktra","pūjā dravya"],"quick_summary":"Prepare a pot with its mouth tied by cloth, fill with gathered flowers, and place it on the hearth oriented westward as specified for the rite."}
Concept: Ritual order (krama), purity boundaries (inside/outside), and directional orientation (dik) are treated as causal supports for successful worship.
Application: Maintain consistent spatial discipline in worship—clean containment (cloth-bound vessel) and correct orientation reduce errors and distractions.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Ritual procedure; offerings and placement of ritual vessels)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A hearth (cullī) with a pot whose mouth is tied with cloth; the practitioner places freshly gathered flowers into it and sets it down with the pot’s opening oriented to the west.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized hearth with gentle flames, pot with cloth-tied mouth, flowers rendered as patterned motifs, practitioner placing vessel facing west, earthy tones, temple-kitchen ritual feel","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gleaming brass pot with cloth cover, gold accents on hearth and utensils, vivid flower heap, symmetrical composition emphasizing west-facing orientation, ornate frame","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, diagrammatic clarity: hearth, pot, arrow indicating west, practitioner’s hands placing flowers, minimal background, fine lines and soft colors","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, domestic ritual courtyard, detailed pot with tied cloth, scattered flowers, small hearth, careful depiction of orientation using architectural cues, delicate border work"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वस्त्रबद्धमुखायां = वस्त्र-बद्ध-मुखायाम्; वहिर्भवैः = वहिः-भवैः; पश्चिमवक्त्रायां = पश्चिम-वक्त्रायाम्; मानुषात्मना = मानुष-आत्मना
Related Themes: Agni Purana 81 (homa upakaraṇa, dravya-sthāpana, dik-niyama)
FAQs
It gives a procedural rule for homa/puja setup: flowers gathered from outside are placed in a cloth-covered pot, and the pot is set on the hearth with a west-facing orientation.
Beyond theology, it preserves precise operational details—materials (flowers), container-preparation (cloth-bound mouth), and spatial orientation (west-facing)—typical of a manual-like ritual science embedded within a Purana.
Correct material selection and directional placement are treated as safeguards of ritual purity and efficacy, ensuring the offering is properly constituted and the rite yields its intended auspicious merit.