Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 15
Vināyaka-snāna (The Vinayaka Bath) — Obstacle-Removal and Consecratory Bathing Rite
नामभिर्बलिमन्त्रैश् च नमस्कारसमन्वितैः दद्याच्चतुष्पथे शूर्पे कुशानास्तीर्य सर्वतः
nāmabhirbalimantraiś ca namaskārasamanvitaiḥ dadyāccatuṣpathe śūrpe kuśānāstīrya sarvataḥ
بِالأسماء اللائقة وبمناجاة القُربان (bali-mantra)، مقرونةً بأفعال السجود والتحية الموقَّرة، ينبغي أن تُقدَّم القُربان عند مفترقٍ ذي أربع طرق، وتُوضَع على صينيةِ التذرية، بعد أن تُفرَشَ حشيشةُ الكوشا (kuśa) من كل جانب حولها.
Lord Agni (in dialogue with sage Vasiṣṭha, standard Agni Purāṇa narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Crossroads bali-offering procedure using bali-mantras, namaskara, and a śūrpa (winnowing tray) with kuśa as ritual boundary/purification.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Catuṣpatha-bali on Śūrpa with Kuśa-paristara","lookup_keywords":["catuṣpatha","bali","śūrpa","kuśa","namaskāra"],"quick_summary":"Make bali at a four-way crossroads, placing it on a winnowing tray and encircling with kuśa-grass while reciting the proper names/mantras and performing salutations."}
Concept: Śuddhi and saṅkalpa expressed through correct deśa (place), dravya (materials), and mantra.
Application: Choose the prescribed liminal location, establish a kuśa boundary, and offer with mantra + namaskāra to align act, speech, and reverence.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Bali and Namaskara offerings at crossroads)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Sacred/liminal site
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A devotee at a four-way crossroads places bali on a winnowing tray, kuśa-grass spread in a ring, hands in namaskāra while reciting mantras.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, crossroads shrine setting at dusk, devotee in white dhoti, śūrpa with offerings, kuśa ring glowing, minimal background, earthy reds and greens, sacred calm.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central devotee offering bali on ornate śūrpa, stylized kuśa border as gold filigree, rich jewel tones, embossed gold highlights, ritual vessels nearby.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional composition showing step-by-step: kuśa spread around, śūrpa placement, namaskāra posture, labeled ritual items, delicate lines and soft palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed urban crossroads with four lanes, small shrine marker, devotee placing śūrpa, fine textiles, precise botanical kuśa, subdued evening sky."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: नामभिः+बलिमन्त्रैः→नामभिर्बलिमन्त्रैः; दद्यात्+चतुष्पथे→दद्याच्चतुष्पथे; कुशान्+आस्तीर्य→कुशानास्तीर्य
Related Themes: Agni Purana Puja-vidhi sections on bali/naivedya and bhūta-śānti (adjacent verses in 265)
FAQs
It teaches the bali-pradāna method: recite prescribed names and bali-mantras with namaskāra, and place the offering at a catuṣpatha on a śūrpa prepared with kuśa spread around.
By preserving precise procedural details—location (crossroads), ritual implements (śūrpa), and sanctifying materials (kuśa)—it functions as a practical ritual manual alongside the Purāṇa’s many other technical domains.
Offering bali with mantra and reverence at a liminal public space (the crossroads) is traditionally held to pacify obstructive forces and promote purification, protection, and auspiciousness for the practitioner.