Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 35
Chapter 24 — कुण्डनिर्माणादिविधिः
Procedure for Constructing the Fire-pit and Related Rites
हृदादिक्रमतो ध्यात्वा एकैकं कर्म पूज्य च अष्टावष्टौ तु जुहुयात् प्रतिकर्माहुतीः पुनः
hṛdādikramato dhyātvā ekaikaṃ karma pūjya ca aṣṭāvaṣṭau tu juhuyāt pratikarmāhutīḥ punaḥ
بالتأمل وفق الترتيب ابتداءً من «القلب» (hṛd-nyāsa وما يتلوه من مواضع الإيداع)، ومع عبادة كل شعيرة على حدة، ينبغي بعد ذلك أن يقدّم القرابين النارية—ثمانياً ثم ثمانياً مرة أخرى—مع إعادة قرابين كل شعيرة على نحوٍ مطابق (prati-karman) مرةً إضافية.
Lord Agni (in dialogue instruction to Sage Vasiṣṭha, standard Agni Purāṇa framing)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Stepwise nyāsa-based visualization and homa counting (8+8) for ritual correctness; used by priests/sādhakas to structure pūjā and oblation cycles.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Hṛd-ādi-nyāsa-krama and Prati-karman Homa (Aṣṭāṣṭa-āhuti)","lookup_keywords":["hṛd-nyāsa","nyāsa-krama","aṣṭāṣṭa āhuti","prati-karman","homa"],"quick_summary":"Prescribes meditative nyāsa beginning from the heart and a structured oblation count (eight and eight), repeating rite-specific offerings. Ensures mantra-body alignment and procedural completeness in homa."}
Concept: Nyāsa links mantra to the practitioner’s embodied awareness; repetition and counting cultivate steadiness (ekāgratā) and ritual integrity.
Application: Use a fixed sequence (hṛd-ādi) and fixed counts to avoid omissions; treat each karmāṅga as a distinct worship-object before offering.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Mantra-nyasa and Homa procedure)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sādhaka seated before a fire altar, performing hṛd-ādi nyāsa (touching heart and other loci in order), then offering measured oblations in two sets of eight, with each rite honored separately.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized yajña-kuṇḍa with flames, sādhaka in white, hand gestures showing nyāsa on chest, orderly rows of offering bowls, rhythmic repetition implied by repeated ladle motion, ornate border motifs.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold accents on fire and ladle, central homa scene with clear altar geometry, eight-and-eight offerings shown as symmetrical arrangement of small ghee lamps/offerings, devotional aura.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional clarity: labeled body-points for hṛd-ādi nyāsa, then two columns of eight āhutis, neat depiction of sruva/sruc and kuṇḍa, subdued elegant colors.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed ritual paraphernalia, close attention to hands performing nyāsa, attendants holding offerings, architectural interior with patterned carpets, sequential action within one frame."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: हृदादिक्रमतो = हृदादि-क्रमतः; प्रतिकर्माहुतीः = प्रति + कर्म + आहुतीः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Pūjā-vidhi sections on nyāsa, aṅga-nyāsa/karanyāsa, homa-vidhi and āhuti counts
FAQs
It teaches a precise ritual sequence: visualize/perform nyāsa starting from the heart in proper order, worship each ritual component, then perform homa with a prescribed count of oblations (two sets of eight), repeating rite-specific oblations.
Beyond mythology, it preserves operational ritual protocol—ordered visualization (nyāsa), component-wise worship, and quantified oblation rules—showing the Agni Purāṇa as a manual of applied liturgy and temple/household ritual practice.
The ordered meditation and repeated, rite-specific oblations are meant to ensure completeness (pūrṇatā) and purity (śuddhi) of the rite, aligning intention, body-mapping (nyāsa), and fire-offering so the karma bears its intended sacrificial and purificatory result.