Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 19
Chapter 166: वर्णधर्मादिकथनं
Exposition of Varṇa-Dharma and Related Topics
दन्तच्छेदनमुष्णं च सप्त शक्तुषु वर्जयेत् स्नात्वा पुष्पं न गृह्णीयाद् देवायोग्यन्तदीरितं
dantacchedanamuṣṇaṃ ca sapta śaktuṣu varjayet snātvā puṣpaṃ na gṛhṇīyād devāyogyantadīritaṃ
سات شکتو ورتوں میں دانت صاف کرنا (دنت چھیدن) اور گرم (پانی/غذا) کا استعمال ترک کیا جائے۔ غسل کے بعد پھول نہ توڑے جائیں؛ یہ دیوتا کو چڑھانے کے لیے ناموزوں کہا گیا ہے۔
Lord Agni (in discourse to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","practical_application":"Maintaining ritual purity during specific observances: avoid tooth-cleaning/cutting and hot intake; avoid plucking flowers after bathing so offerings remain ritually fit.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Śaktu-observance restrictions & flower-offering etiquette","lookup_keywords":["śaktu-vrata","danta-cchedana","uṣṇa-varjana","snāna-anantara","puṣpa-grahaṇa-niṣedha"],"quick_summary":"During the seven śaktu-observances, avoid tooth-cutting/cleaning and hot (food/water). After bathing, do not pluck flowers for worship; such flowers are deemed unfit for deity-offering."}
Concept: Devārpaṇa requires śauca and restraint; certain acts render offerings/performer ritually unsuitable.
Application: Adopt pre-pūjā discipline: regulate bodily acts and handling of offerings to preserve ritual fitness.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Ritual Purity and Temple Etiquette)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A devotee in a temple courtyard during a vrata: avoiding tooth-cleaning and hot items; after bathing, refraining from plucking flowers, while prepared flowers lie in a clean basket for offering.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, clean temple courtyard with oil-lamp glow, devotee in white dhoti after bath, hands folded, flower basket already prepared, emphasis on ritual purity, flat colors and ornate borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold leaf, deity shrine in background, devotee holding a flower basket without plucking, rich textiles, haloed sanctum, decorative arch and gold embellishments.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, instructional scene: sequence panels showing bath, then restraint from plucking flowers, labeled ritual items (water pot, flower tray), delicate lines and soft shading.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, palace-temple garden with flowering plants, devotee stepping back from plucking after bath, attendants holding prepared offerings, fine detailing of flora and textiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: दन्तच्छेदनमुष्णम् → दन्तच्छेदनम् + उष्णम्; गृह्णीयाद् → गृह्णीयात्; देवायोग्यन्तदीरितं → देवायोग्यम् + तत् + ईरितम् (पाठभेद/सन्धि-विच्छेद).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 166 (Varṇa-dharma/ācāra context); Agni Purana pūjā-vidhi sections on śauca and upacāras
FAQs
It gives śauca (purity) rules for worship/vow-periods: avoid tooth-cleaning and hot intake, and do not pluck flowers after bathing for use in deity-offerings.
Alongside theology, the Agni Purana catalogs practical ritual protocols—fine-grained do’s and don’ts for offerings and bodily discipline—typical of its wide-ranging, handbook-like coverage of religious life.
The instruction frames worship as dependent on bodily and offering-purity; avoiding these acts is presented as maintaining the offering’s fitness (devayog्यता), supporting ritual merit and preventing impurity from entering the rite.