Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 39
प्रायश्चित्तानि (Expiations) — Association-Impurity, Purification Rites, and Graded Penance
उपानहममेध्यं च यस्य संस्पृशते मुखं मृत्तिकागोमयौ तत्र पञ्चगव्यञ्च शोधनं
upānahamamedhyaṃ ca yasya saṃspṛśate mukhaṃ mṛttikāgomayau tatra pañcagavyañca śodhanaṃ
اگر جوتا (اُپانَہ) یا کوئی ناپاک چیز منہ کو چھو لے، تو وہاں مٹی اور گوبر سے تطہیر کی جائے، اور پنچگَوْیَہ کے ذریعے بھی پاکی حاصل کی جائے۔
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Ayurveda","practical_application":"Immediate decontamination protocol when footwear/impure matter contacts the mouth: cleanse with clay and cow-dung, and purify with pañcagavya—restoring ritual cleanliness.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Mouth-contact impurity: purification with mṛttikā, gomaya, and pañcagavya","lookup_keywords":["upānah","amedhya","mukha","pañcagavya","mṛttikā"],"quick_summary":"If the mouth is touched by footwear or impurity, cleanse using clay and cow-dung and complete purification with pañcagavya as prescribed."}
Concept: Contact (saṃsparśa) with amedhya creates impurity; prescribed substances and acts restore śuddhi and social-ritual order.
Application: Maintain boundaries between impure objects and the body’s orifices; if breached, perform immediate corrective cleansing and follow community-accepted purification steps.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Shauca-vidhi (Ritual Purification and Impurity Removal)
Primary Rasa: bibhatsa
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A person’s mouth is accidentally touched by footwear/impurity; he performs cleansing with clay and cow-dung and then takes/applies pañcagavya for purification.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, close-up narrative: impure contact near the face, then ritual cleansing with clay paste and gomaya, followed by a small vessel labeled pañcagavya; strong linework, earthy palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, ritual purification scene with ornate vessels, gold-leaf highlights on pots and borders, the subject washing and then receiving pañcagavya from a priest.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, step-by-step instructional depiction: (1) contact, (2) clay cleansing, (3) gomaya application, (4) pañcagavya administration; clean composition and captions.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, domestic courtyard with detailed utensils; a figure rinses mouth while another holds a small bowl of pañcagavya; intricate textiles and architectural framing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: उपानहममेध्यम् = उपानहम् + अमेध्यम्; पञ्चगव्यञ्च = पञ्चगव्यम् + च
Related Themes: Agni Purana 170 (śauca substances and expiations)
FAQs
It prescribes a specific shauca (purificatory) procedure when the mouth is polluted by contact with footwear or other impure substances: cleanse using clay and cow-dung, and additionally employ pañcagavya as a purifier.
Alongside theology and worship, the Agni Purana catalogs practical dharma-shastra style regulations—fine-grained rules of impurity and purification—showing its role as a compendium of ritual, social, and legal-religious practice.
The instruction treats impurity (aśauca/amedhya contact) as spiritually consequential; performing prescribed purification restores ritual fitness (adhikāra) for worship, recitation, and daily rites, thereby preventing the karmic fault associated with negligence of cleanliness.