Introduction

In Hinduism

Vastushastra (architecture)

Source: McGill: The architectural theory of the Mānasāra

Aṅkurārpaṇa (अङ्कुरार्पण) refers to “the ritual offering of seed and sprout”. It consists of offering seeds of rice, sesame, kidney-bean, pulse, mustard, and such, in a vessel, to Soma, Moon. Soma is “the totality of all oblations, the Lord of germs, the divinity who presides over formations”. The bīja, seed, contains within it the potency for germination and growth. In the rite of aṅkurārpaṇa, this vitality is invoked to pervade the temple and image as the manifestation of Śiva. When conducted at the beginning of construction, the auspicious germination of the seeds symbolize the “growth” of the temple from “the germ of all things that be” that is deposited in the earth.

context information

Vastushastra (वास्तुशास्त्र, vāstuśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian science (shastra) of architecture (vastu), dealing with topics such architecture, sculpture, town-building, fort building and various other constructions. Vastu also deals with the philosophy of the architectural relation with the cosmic universe.

Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: JSTOR: Tāntric Dīkṣā by Surya Kanta

Aṅkurārpaṇa (अङ्कुरार्पण) is the name of a ceremony in Śaktism described in the Śāradātilaka-tantra III-V.—In order to attain auspiciousness aṅkurārpaṇa ceremony is performed just a week before initiation. A small room, extending from east to west, is prepared in the northern portion of the maṇḍapa and a circular dais (maṇḍapa) is built therein. On this dais some strings are placed in such an order that it is divided into 40 divisions. These divisions are coloured with white, yellow, red, dark, and blue colours.

Rice and darbha-grass are strewn on these coloured portions and auspicious jars with strings tied round them are placed on them. These jars are filled with dry cow-dung, mud and clay. Rice, śyāmāka corn, mudga beans, sesamum seeds, niṣpāva pulse, mustard, kulattha, kuṅkuma and māṣa beans are washed with milk and put in these jars with the recitation of the mūla-mantra, the particle vaṃ, and with blessings of the Brāhmaṇas, and play of the instrumental music. The jars are covered with a piece of cloth besprinkled with water coloured with turmeric.

Bali-offorings are offered in three quarters. Bhūtas, Pitṛs, Yakṣas, Nāgas, Brahmā, Śiva and Hari are ordained as the seven deities of the nights preceding Dīkṣā. To these deities balls of different materials are offered, then a bali is offered to the Lokeśvaras also. This is the Aṅkurārpaṇa ceremony, which is performed on the occasions of Dīkṣā, Abhiṣeka on entering a new house, on festivals and other ceremonial occasions.

context information

Shakta (शाक्त, śākta) or Shaktism (śāktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.

General definition (in Hinduism)

Source: Sreenivasarao’s blogs: Temple worship and rituals (1 of 5)

Ankurarpana: to commence by offering the sprout, seeking happiness and prosperity. Seeds of nine or ten grains [rice, gingelly, millet, tail-pepper, black-gram, mustard, bean called mudga, a legume called samba, kaulatta (dolichos uniflorus)] are sown in twelve earthen pots filled with mud ceremonially collected and placed on a certain specified mandala. Offerings are scattered in eight directions invoking their presiding deities to protect the sprouts. This ceremony is carried out during night, as moon is regarded the lord of plants.

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Source: Tamil Arts Academy: Jain temple rituals - an anicent text

Ankurarpana (sprouting ceremony) should be performed on the ninth day prior to the date consecration. This should be done during night.

context information

Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Aṅkurārpaṇa (अङ्कुरार्पण):—[=aṅku-rārpaṇa] [from aṅkura > aṅk] n. ‘planting a shoot’, a kind of nuptial ceremony, [Gṛhya-sūtra 2].

context information

Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Arpaṇa, Anku, Ankura.

Starts with: Ankurarpanaprayoga, Ankurarpanavidhi.

Full-text: Vastubali, Ankurarpanavidhi, Punyaha.

Relevant text

Search found 2 books and stories containing Ankurarpana, Aṅkurārpaṇa, Ankura-arpana, Aṅkura-arpaṇa, Anku-rarpana, Aṅku-rārpaṇa; (plurals include: Ankurarpanas, Aṅkurārpaṇas, arpanas, arpaṇas, rarpanas, rārpaṇas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Manasara (English translation) (by Prasanna Kumar Acharya)

Chapter 37 - The opening of the dwelling house (gṛha-praveśa)

Chapter 70 - The chiselling of the eye (nayanonmīlana)

Chapter 49 - The crowns (mauli) and coronation (abhiṣeka)

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The Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)

Chapter 25 - The Construction and Installation of the Chariot of the Lord < [Section 2 - Puruṣottama-kṣetra-māhātmya]

Chapter 33 - The Chariot-Procession Called Guṇḍicā Yātrā < [Section 2 - Puruṣottama-kṣetra-māhātmya]

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