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In the Agni Mahā-Purāṇa, we have verses in reference to the procedure of a King's coronation ceremony.

In the rituals involving cleansing the "to-be King's" body, we get the following -

Chapter 218 - Rājābhiṣeka

वेश्याद्वारमृदा राज्ञः कटिशौचं विधीयते । २१८.१६.क ।

  1. a. It is laid down that the waist of a king should be cleansed with the mud (obtained) from the threshold of a courtesan,

I seek the significance of this act. Or any specific symbolism behind this.

Is this connected to/ similar to the popular notion of sourcing the soil for goddess Durgā's idol from a courtesan's land,
as discussed in this QnA, because a King is said to be equivalent to the divinities?

Which other scriptures besides the Agni Purāṇa, discuss this? And what's exactly the significance of this ritual?

Vivikta
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    I am just speculating. Generally the doer only bears the responsibility of sinful activities committed by him/her (exceptions are in case of extreme cases) but kings are said to bear responsibility for sinful activities commited by their subjects & the subjects are also said to bear the punishment inflicted by the divinities over the king. Perhaps the consecration by brothel soil was used to link the king & his subjects via sin. – অনু Mar 25 '22 at 02:30

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