Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 23
Worship of Gaurī and Others (Gauryādi-pūjā) — Mantra, Maṇḍala, Mudrā, Homa, and Mṛtyuñjaya Kalaśa-Rite
हूयमानञ्च प्रणवो मूर्तिरोजस ईदृशं मूलञ्च वौषडन्तेन कुम्भमुद्रां प्रदर्शयेत्
hūyamānañca praṇavo mūrtirojasa īdṛśaṃ mūlañca vauṣaḍantena kumbhamudrāṃ pradarśayet
আহুতি দিওঁতে প্ৰণৱ (ওঁ) উচ্চাৰণ কৰি বলবত্তাৰে তেনেদৰে মূৰ্তিৰূপ প্ৰকাশ কৰিব। তাৰ পিছত মূলমন্ত্ৰ “বৌষট্”ৰে সমাপ্ত কৰি কুম্ভমুদ্ৰা প্ৰদৰ্শন কৰিব।
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in ritual procedure)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Homa-krama: oblation-time utterance of Praṇava, sealing the act with vauṣaṭ, and showing Kumbha-mudrā to stabilize and ‘contain’ the offering’s intent.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Homa-kāle Praṇava-uccāraṇa, Vauṣaṭ-anta-mūlamantra, Kumbha-mudrā","lookup_keywords":["homa","praṇava oṃ","vauṣaṭ","kumbha-mudrā","mūlamantra"],"quick_summary":"During oblation, utter Oṃ, complete the root-mantra with vauṣaṭ, and display Kumbha-mudrā as a ritual ‘container/seal’ for the offering."}
Concept: Śabda (praṇava) + kriyā (homa) + mudrā as integrated ritual technology to ‘fix’ intention and result.
Application: Maintain exact sequencing: oblation → Oṃ → mūlamantra ending in vauṣaṭ → Kumbha-mudrā to conclude/contain the act.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Mantra-japa, Homa, and Mudra-vidhi)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: śānta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A fire-altar homa scene: priest offers oblation into flames, chanting Oṃ; right hand forms Kumbha-mudrā like a pot-seal; the mantra ends with ‘vauṣaṭ’.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, homa-kuṇḍa with bright flames, priest in white mundu, sacred thread, hand in Kumbha-mudrā, stylized Oṃ glyph above, warm ochres and reds, flat iconic composition.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf accents on fire-altar and vessels, priest performing homa, prominent Oṃ emblem, Kumbha-mudrā hand gesture clearly outlined, rich maroons and greens, ornate borders.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional clarity: close view of hand forming Kumbha-mudrā, homa ladle and kuṇḍa, labeled feel without text, delicate lines, soft shading, calm ritual setting.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed yajña pavilion, small fire-altar, priest mid-chant, subtle depiction of Kumbha-mudrā, attendants holding vessels, fine textiles, naturalistic flames and architecture."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: hūyamānañca = hūyamānam + ca; mūrtirojasa = mūrtiḥ + ojasā; mūlañca = mūlam + ca; vauṣaḍantena = vauṣaṭ-antena.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 325 (Pūjā-vidhi: japa-homa-mudrā); Agni Purana 326 (Devālaya-māhātmya: ritual framing)
FAQs
It teaches a specific homa-prayoga: uttering Oṃ during oblation, concluding the principal (root) mantra with “vauṣaṭ,” and performing the Kumbha-mudrā as a prescribed ritual gesture.
Beyond mythology, the Agni Purana functions as a practical ritual compendium; this verse preserves precise operational details—mantra sequencing (praṇava + vauṣaṭ) and mudrā-performance—typical of procedural manuals embedded in Purāṇic literature.
Correct mantra-ending with “vauṣaṭ” and the accompanying mudrā are treated as completing the offering properly, aligning intention, sound (mantra), and action (gesture) to secure purification and effective ritual merit (puṇya).