Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 23
Chapter 24 — कुण्डनिर्माणादिविधिः
Procedure for Constructing the Fire-pit and Related Rites
आज्यस्थाली चरुस्थाली कुशाज्यञ्च प्रणीतया प्रोक्षयित्वा प्रोक्षणीञ्च गृहीत्वापूर्य वारिणा
ājyasthālī carusthālī kuśājyañca praṇītayā prokṣayitvā prokṣaṇīñca gṛhītvāpūrya vāriṇā
بعد أن يرشَّ بماء البرنيتا (praṇītā) إناء السمن (ājya-sthālī) وإناء القربان المطبوخ (caru-sthālī) وعشب الكوشا المدهون بالسمن، يُؤخذ إناء الرشّ (prokṣaṇī) ويُملأ بالماء.
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in ritual procedure)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Standardizes consecration of homa implements (ghee-pan, caru-pan, kuśa) and preparation of sprinkling water to maintain ritual purity and procedural correctness.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Praṇītā-prokṣaṇa: Consecrating vessels and filling the prokṣaṇī","lookup_keywords":["praṇītā-jala","prokṣaṇa","ājya-sthālī","caru-sthālī","prokṣaṇī-pātra"],"quick_summary":"Sprinkle the ghee-pan, cooked-offering pan, and kuśa with praṇītā-water; then fill the prokṣaṇī vessel with water for subsequent purification and offering steps."}
Concept: Śauca (ritual purity) and niyama (procedural discipline) as supports for yajña efficacy.
Application: Follow ordered steps of saṃskāra/prokṣaṇa to avoid doṣa (ritual fault) and ensure offerings are fit for devatā.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Vedic fire ritual procedure / Agni-karya)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A yajamāna/ṛtvik sprinkles the ājya-sthālī and caru-sthālī and kuśa with praṇītā-water, then lifts the prokṣaṇī vessel and fills it with clean water beside the fire-altar.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, warm earthy palette, yajña-śālā with square vedi and glowing agni, priest in white dhoti holding kuśa and sprinkling water over bronze ājya-sthālī and caru-sthālī, detailed ritual vessels, serene atmosphere.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central agni with stylized flames, priest consecrating ghee-pan and offering-pan, ornate vessels with gold highlights, rich reds and greens, decorative borders, emphasis on sacred implements.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, instructional composition showing labeled vessels (ājya-sthālī, caru-sthālī, prokṣaṇī), priest sprinkling with praṇītā-water, clean linework and soft shading, calm ritual setting.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, fine detailing of metal vessels and water droplets, priest filling prokṣaṇī from a small pot, fire-altar in foreground, architectural pavilion background, delicate textiles and precise gestures."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कुशाज्यञ्च = कुश-आज्यम् + च; प्रोक्षणीञ्च = प्रोक्षणीम् + च; गृहीत्वापूर्य = गृहीत्वा + आपूर्य.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 24 (Pūjā-vidhi / Homa-prakaraṇa context)
FAQs
It teaches the preparatory homa-step of consecrating key offering vessels (ghee-pan, caru-pan, kuśa) by sprinkling with praṇītā-water, then preparing the prokṣaṇī by filling it with water for subsequent ritual sprinklings.
By preserving precise operational details—named implements (ājyasthālī, carusthālī, prokṣaṇī) and actions (prokṣaṇa with praṇītā)—it functions like a ritual manual embedded within a Purāṇa, showcasing the text’s wide-ranging, procedural knowledge.
Sprinkling with consecrated water ritually purifies and sacralizes the implements, aligning the offering process with śuddhi (purity) and niyama (correct observance), which is traditionally held to ensure the efficacy and merit (puṇya) of the homa.