Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 4
Aśvāyurveda
Medical Science of Horses
वहिः कुर्याद्विशेषेण नासत्यौ वरुणं यजेत् समुल्लिख्य ततो देवीं शाखाभिः परिवारयेत्
vahiḥ kuryādviśeṣeṇa nāsatyau varuṇaṃ yajet samullikhya tato devīṃ śākhābhiḥ parivārayet
ينبغي أن تُؤدَّى القُربان خارج الحِمى (السياج الطقسي) بعنايةٍ خاصة؛ ويُعبَد النَّاسَتْيَان (التوأمان الأشفين) وفَرُونَة. ثم بعد أن يُرسَم موضعُ الطقس/المخطط بوضوح، تُحاط الإلهةُ بالأغصان لتكون حدًّا واقيًا.
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in ritual procedure)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Ritual ground-preparation and protective enclosure in devī-yajana: external offering, specific devatā-invocation (Aśvinau, Varuṇa), marking the ritual space, and creating a branch-boundary (rakṣā-paridhi).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Bahir-homa and Rakṣā-paridhi in Devī-pūjā (Aśvinau–Varuṇa-yajana)","lookup_keywords":["bahih","nāsatya","varuṇa","samullikhya","śākhā-parivāraṇa"],"quick_summary":"Perform the offering outside with care, worship the Aśvins and Varuṇa, then mark the ritual ground and encircle the Goddess with branches as a protective boundary."}
Concept: Ritual purity and protection of the devatā-seat through proper spatial demarcation (lekhana) and rakṣā-paridhi.
Application: Before main arcana/homa, establish a clearly bounded sacred zone to prevent ritual disturbance and maintain saṅkalpa-focus.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Vedic/Tantric ritual procedure and devata-yajana)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual enclosure: the vedi/maṇḍala is freshly marked on the ground; outside the boundary an offering is being made; priests invoke the Aśvins and Varuṇa; the Goddess’ seat is encircled with leafy branches forming a protective ring.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, ochre-red background, stylized priests drawing a maṇḍala on the floor, Devī’s sanctified seat at center, leafy branch-paridhi encircling it, small icon-forms of Aśvinau and Varuṇa in the margins, flat decorative patterns, traditional ornaments","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central Devī-pīṭha with ornate arch, gold-foil highlights on ritual vessels, priests placing branches as a protective circle, small framed depictions of Aśvinau and Varuṇa, rich reds and greens, embossed jewelry motifs","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean linework showing step-by-step ritual: ground marking (samullikhya), then branch boundary placement, labeled stations, subdued pastel palette, emphasis on instructional clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed courtyard yajña scene, attendants holding branches forming a ring around the deity-seat, a priest offering outside the enclosure, fine textiles and architectural detail, delicate faces, naturalistic foliage"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कुर्याद्विशेषेण = कुर्यात् + विशेषेण; दलेष्वपि (elsewhere) type sandhi not in this verse; yajet samullikhya is simple juxtaposition; vahiḥ treated as avyaya ‘bahiḥ’ orthographic variant.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Puja-vidhi sections on maṇḍala-lekhana, rakṣā, paridhi-bandhana, and devatā-yajana (same khanda context)
FAQs
It teaches a sequence in devatā-yajana: perform an external offering, worship the Nāsatyas and Varuṇa, then mark the ritual space and create a protective enclosure around the Devī using branches.
It exemplifies the Agni Purana’s practical, manual-like coverage of ritual technology—devatā invocation, spatial marking (rekhā/diagram-ground preparation), and protective boundary-making—alongside its many other domains.
The ordered worship and protective enclosure are intended to ensure ritual purity and efficacy, guarding the rite from obstacles (vighna) and securing the intended merit (puṇya) of Devī worship.