Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 12
Vināyaka-snāna (The Vinayaka Bath) — Obstacle-Removal and Consecratory Bathing Rite
ललाटे कर्णयोरक्ष्णोरापस्तद्घ्नन्तु सर्वदा दर्भपिञ्जलिमादाय वामहस्ते ततो गुरुः
lalāṭe karṇayorakṣṇorāpastadghnantu sarvadā darbhapiñjalimādāya vāmahaste tato guruḥ
Sa noo, sa mga tainga, at sa mga mata—nawa’y laging itaboy ng mga tubig ang anumang karumihan o masama. Pagkaraan, ang guro, na may hawak na bigkis ng damong darbha sa kaliwang kamay, ay nagpapatuloy sa ritwal.
Lord Agni (narrating ritual procedure to Vasiṣṭha, per the common Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Apamārjana (warding-off) with water-mantra focused on forehead, ears, and eyes; followed by procedural step of holding darbha bundle in the left hand for continuing rites.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Āpaḥ-rakṣā for Lalāṭa–Karṇa–Akṣi and Darbha-grāhaṇa","lookup_keywords":["āpaḥ","lalāṭa","karṇa","akṣi","darbha"],"quick_summary":"Apply/gesture consecrated water for protection of key sense-organs, then take darbha in the left hand as the ritual implement for subsequent actions."}
Concept: Indriya-śuddhi and rakṣā as part of ritual fitness (adhikāra) for worship.
Application: Before mantra-japa/homa, perform water-warding on forehead/ears/eyes and maintain darbha as a purity-marker and ritual tool.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Ritual Purification and Protective Rites)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"The priest sprinkles or touches consecrated water to the forehead, ears, and eyes for protection, then holds a darbha bundle in the left hand to continue the rite.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, close-up ritual scene: priest sprinkling water with darbha, emphasis on forehead ears eyes, warm ochres and greens, stylized temple lamps, serene expressions","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-highlighted water vessel and darbha bundle, devotee’s face frontal with marked forehead, ornate frame, rich colors, sacred geometry motifs","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional clarity: priest’s left hand holding darbha, right hand sprinkling water, minimal background, soft gradients, precise depiction of facial points","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed facial features and gesture, small ewer of water, darbha bundle rendered as fine grass, patterned carpet, delicate border"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कर्णयोरक्ष्णोः = कर्णयोः + अक्ष्णोः; अक्ष्णोरापः = अक्ष्णोः + आपः; तद्घ्नन्तु = तत् + घ्नन्तु; दर्भपिञ्जलिमादाय = दर्भपिञ्जलिम् + आदाय.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 265 (āpaḥ-śuddhi and rakṣā steps; use of darbha/kuśa)
FAQs
It teaches a prokṣaṇa/rakṣā step: consecrated water is applied to key sense-organs (forehead, ears, eyes) for protection, while the officiant holds a darbha bundle as a ritual implement.
Beyond mythology, it preserves precise liturgical micro-instructions—how to perform purification and protective acts using standard Vedic materials (āpas, darbha) and the role of the guru—showing the text’s practical ritual handbook dimension.
Sprinkling/empowering the senses with purified water is framed as removing doṣa/inauspicious influence and establishing protective purity (śuddhi and rakṣā), supporting merit and readiness for worship.