Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 28
Chapter 41 — शिलाविन्यासविधानं
The Procedure for Laying the Stones / Foundation Setting
मनुष्यादिकतुष्ट्यर्थं पशुवृद्धिकरी भव एवमुक्त्वा ततः खातं गोमूत्रेण तु सेचयेत्
manuṣyādikatuṣṭyarthaṃ paśuvṛddhikarī bhava evamuktvā tataḥ khātaṃ gomūtreṇa tu secayet
“انسانوں وغیرہ کی تسکین کے لیے اور مویشیوں کی افزائش کا سبب بن”—یہ کہہ کر پھر کھودے ہوئے گڑھے پر گو مُوتر چھڑکے۔
Lord Agni (narrating the procedure to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Ayurveda","practical_application":"Ritual appeasement for human and livestock welfare; purification/auspicious sprinkling of a dug pit using gomutra as a sanctifying agent.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Gomutra-sechana for Pit Purification and Pashu-vriddhi","lookup_keywords":["gomutra","sechana","khaata","pashu-vriddhi","shanti"],"quick_summary":"After stating the welfare intention for people and livestock, sprinkle the dug pit with cow’s urine as a purificatory and auspicious act."}
Concept: Sankalpa (stated intention) + shuddhi (purification) as the operative structure of ritual efficacy.
Application: State the intended welfare outcome, then perform a concrete purificatory act on the ritual locus to ‘seal’ the intention.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Mantra-kalpa (Ritual procedures for appeasement and prosperity)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Type: Sacred space (construction/rite spot)
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A priest beside a freshly dug pit, reciting a welfare formula and sprinkling gomutra from a vessel onto the earth; cattle shown in the background as the intended beneficiaries.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, earthy ritual ground with a square/round pit, priest holding a small pot sprinkling liquid, cows in background, stylized flora, warm ochres and reds","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, ritualist at pit with ornate vessel, symbolic cow and calf, gold highlights on pot and borders, minimal background emphasizing auspicious act","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear step-by-step scene: dug pit, sprinkling action, labeled ritual items (kalasha, ladle), calm palette, instructional clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, rural courtyard with pit, detailed vessels, attendants and cattle, fine brushwork, naturalistic ground textures, decorative border"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: manuṣyādikatuṣṭyarthaṃ is a purpose-compound; evamuktvā → evam uktvā (sandhi in recitation); secayet is vidhi-liṅ (optative).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 41 (mantra-kalpa, shanti-karma, prosperity rites)
FAQs
It teaches a practical paushṭi-prayoga: a spoken intention for appeasement and cattle-increase, followed by purifying/energizing a prepared pit by sprinkling it with gomūtra.
Alongside theology and myth, the text preserves applied household-and-community rites—prosperity and agrarian well-being measures—showing the Purana’s coverage of pragmatic ritual technology.
Gomūtra functions as a purifier in dharmic practice; combined with a stated benevolent intent (appeasement and welfare), it frames the act as a merit-oriented rite aimed at harmony and prosperity.