Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 57
Srāvādya-śauca
Impurity due to bodily discharge and allied causes
विदिश्य निम्बपत्राणि नियतो द्वारि वेश्मनः आचम्य चाग्निमुदकं गोमयं गौरसर्षपान्
vidiśya nimbapatrāṇi niyato dvāri veśmanaḥ ācamya cāgnimudakaṃ gomayaṃ gaurasarṣapān
安置苦楝叶（neem）于诸方之后，持戒之行者立于宅门，当先行阿遮摩那（ācamana）。继而以火与水、牛粪及黄芥子作为护净之物。
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Household protective purification: placing neem leaves at the doorway and using pañcagavya-like purifiers (fire, water, cow-dung) plus mustard seeds to ward off impurity and negative influences.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Rakṣā-kalpa: Doorway protection with nimba, agni-udaka, gomaya, and gaurasarṣapa","lookup_keywords":["rakṣā-kalpa","nimba-patra","gomaya","gaurasarṣapa","gṛha-śuddhi"],"quick_summary":"For protection and purification, place neem leaves at the entrance, perform ācamana, and apply purifiers—fire and water, cow-dung, and yellow mustard—forming a practical household rakṣā rite."}
Concept: External śuddhi supports internal niyama: ācamana (inner purity) precedes protective acts at the threshold (outer purity).
Application: Before entering/after impurity events, perform ācamana and apply doorway protections; keep ritual items ready (neem, mustard, water, cleansing materials).
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Raksha-kalpa (Protective rites and household purification)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Sacred domestic threshold
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"At a house entrance, a disciplined practitioner hangs/places neem leaves, performs ācamana, and prepares purifying agents—water, a small ritual flame, cow-dung for cleansing, and yellow mustard seeds for protective scattering/fumigation.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, doorway scene with neem garland, practitioner in simple attire doing ācamana, small lamp flame, water pot, cow-dung plaster bowl, mustard seeds in a dish, warm earthy palette, protective calm mood.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, ornate doorway with neem festoon, gold-highlighted lamp and vessels, practitioner mid-ācamana, mustard seeds and gomaya depicted with rich textures, auspicious threshold motifs.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional clarity: sequential actions—place neem, do ācamana, apply agni/udaka, use gomaya, scatter mustard—clean linework, labeled implements, soft pastel background.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed domestic entrance with patterned doorframe, figure performing ācamana, attendants holding a lamp and water pot, bowls of gomaya and mustard, fine botanical rendering of neem leaves."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चाग्निमुदकं = च + अग्निम् + उदकम्; निम्बपत्राणि = निम्ब + पत्राणि (तत्पुरुष); गौरसर्षपान् = गौर + सरषपान् (कर्मधारय).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 158 (rakṣā/śuddhi adjuncts around śrāddha and household rites)
FAQs
It teaches a household protective purification (rakṣā-śuddhi) at the doorway using neem leaves, ācamana, and purificatory substances—fire, water, cow-dung, and yellow mustard.
Alongside theology, the Agni Purana preserves practical domestic and ritual technology—applied methods for space-cleansing and protection—showing its coverage of lived religious practice, not only mythic narration.
The acts function as śuddhi (purification) and rakṣā (warding), aiming to remove impurity and obstructive influences at the threshold, thereby supporting auspiciousness and religious merit in the home.