Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 11
Chapter 41 — शिलाविन्यासविधानं
The Procedure for Laying the Stones / Foundation Setting
लोकेशानामग्नये वै सोमायावग्रहेषु च पुरुषोत्तमायेति च व्याहृतीर्जुहुयात्ततः
lokeśānāmagnaye vai somāyāvagraheṣu ca puruṣottamāyeti ca vyāhṛtīrjuhuyāttataḥ
ثم تُقدَّم القرابين في النار مع تلاوة صيغ vyāhṛti: «لأغني حقًّا»؛ «لسوما»؛ «في جملة الأڤاغراها (Avagraha) القابضين»؛ و«لبوروشوتّما (Puruṣottama)».
Lord Agni (teaching sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Perform vyāhṛti-based āhutis naming specific deities/powers (Agni, Soma, Avagraha-seizers, Puruṣottama) to align the homa with cosmic and protective functions.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Mantra","entry_title":"Vyāhṛti-homa: Agni–Soma–Avagraha–Puruṣottama Āhuti","lookup_keywords":["vyāhṛti","Agni","Soma","Avagraha","Puruṣottama"],"quick_summary":"Offer oblations while uttering the vyāhṛti invocations directed to Agni, Soma, the Avagraha/seizing forces, and Puruṣottama—framing the homa as both nourishment of deities and pacification of obstructive powers."}
Concept: Mantra as address (uddeśa) that specifies the recipient-power of an offering; naming channels intention and effect.
Application: In śānti contexts, include both benefic deities (Agni/Soma) and graha-like seizers (avagraha) to cover nourishment and pacification together.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Homa and Vyahriti-Mantra Prayoga)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"The priest offers successive āhutis, each accompanied by a distinct invocation: Agni, Soma, the seizing Avagrahas, and Puruṣottama—suggesting both propitiation and protection.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, fourfold aura motifs around the fire: red for Agni, cool white for Soma, dark protective ring for Avagraha-seizers, golden Vishnu-like radiance for Puruṣottama; priest mid-offering, stylized flames and lotus borders","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central homa fire with four small emblem panels: Agni flame icon, Soma crescent, protective talisman for Avagraha, Vishnu/Puruṣottama symbol; gold leaf on halos and ornaments, symmetrical devotional layout","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, didactic layout with four labeled offerings in sequence, clear depiction of ladle movement and mantra focus, soft palette, fine ornamentation, emphasis on clarity of ritual steps","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly yajña pavilion with meticulous detail; four attendants hold symbolic items (fire brand, moon-disc, protective amulet, conch/discus) corresponding to the invoked powers; refined calligraphy-like mantra captions"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: लोकेशानामग्नये = लोकेशानाम् + अग्नये; सोमायावग्रहेषु = सोमाय + अवग्रहेषु; पुरुषोत्तमायेति = पुरुषोत्तमाय + इति; व्याहृतीर्जुहुयात् = व्याहृतीः + जुहुयात्;
Related Themes: Agni Purana 41 (Vyāhṛti-mantra prayoga); Agni Purana śānti-karma and graha-śānti related passages (general)
FAQs
It prescribes a specific homa procedure: offering oblations while reciting designated vyāhṛti-style invocations addressed to Agni, Soma, the Avagrahas (obstructive ‘seizers’), and Puruṣottama.
It functions like a ritual manual embedded within the Purana—cataloging practical mantra-uses for worship and protection (including graha/avagraha-related appeasement), alongside its many other domains of knowledge.
Homa with correctly directed mantras is presented as a purificatory and protective act—aligning the sacrificer with cosmic powers (Agni/Soma) while pacifying obstructive influences (Avagrahas) under the supreme auspice of Puruṣottama.