Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 41
Chapter 34 — होमादिविधिः
The Procedure for Homa and Related Rites
चन्द्रवक्त्रञ्च सूर्याक्षं जुहुयाच्छतमष्ट च तदर्धञ्चाष्ट मूलेन अङ्गानाञ्च दशांशतः
candravaktrañca sūryākṣaṃ juhuyācchatamaṣṭa ca tadardhañcāṣṭa mūlena aṅgānāñca daśāṃśataḥ
Man soll den Mantra-Gottheiten «mondgesichtig» und «sonnenäugig» 108 Oblationen darbringen; danach die Hälfte davon, also 54. Erneut, mit dem Wurzelmantra, sind die Oblationen für die Neben-Glieder (aṅga) im Umfang eines Zehntels der Hauptzahl auszuführen.
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, as the standard Agni Purana discourse frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Homa-japa counts for specific mantra-devatā aspects (‘Moon-faced’, ‘Sun-eyed’): perform 108 oblations, then 54; then offer for aṅga-mantras at one-tenth of the main count using the mūla-mantra framework.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Homa-saṅkhyā for Candra-vaktra & Sūrya-akṣa and Aṅga-daśāṃśa Rule","lookup_keywords":["chandra-vaktra","surya-aksha","homa-108","homa-54","anga-dashamsha"],"quick_summary":"For the specified mantra-aspects, offer 108 oblations and then 54; afterward complete aṅga (limb) offerings at one-tenth of the principal count, maintaining proportional completeness in mantra-homa."}
Alamkara Type: Rūpaka
Concept: Pūrṇatā (ritual completeness) via saṅkhyā and aṅga-upāṅga structure: main mantra and its limbs are harmonized by proportional offerings.
Application: Use 108 as the principal completion count; apply 54 as an auxiliary half-completion; ensure aṅga offerings at 1/10 to ‘seal’ the practice without excess or deficiency.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Mantra-japa and Homa Prayoga)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A homa scene with a counting mala and a tally of 108 offerings; the deity-visualization appears as a luminous figure with moon-like face and sun-like eyes; subsequent smaller set of aṅga offerings shown as one-tenth portions.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, priest offering into fire with mala, stylized deity visage: moon-face and sun-eyes, 108 represented by bead garland motif, aṅga offerings as smaller grouped flames, serene palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold work on the deity’s halo and sun-like eyes, cool silver-white moon face, priest and altar richly ornamented, 108 and 54 symbolized by bead strings and grouped offerings","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional clarity: panels showing 108 then 54, then aṅga offerings at 1/10, deity epithets illustrated with moon disc face and sun disc eyes, fine detailing","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, meticulous counting scene with assistant recording 108, deity apparition with moonlike visage and solar eyes, subsequent smaller offering set depicted, refined interior setting"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चन्द्रवक्त्रम्+च→चन्द्रवक्त्रञ्च; जुहुयात्+शतम्→जुहुयाच्छतम्; शतम्+अष्ट→शतमष्ट; तत्+अर्धम्→तदर्धम्; तदर्धम्+च+अष्ट→तदर्धञ्चाष्ट; अङ्गानाम्+च→अङ्गानाञ्च
Related Themes: Agni Purana 34 (japa-homa saṅkhyā, mūla-mantra and aṅga-mantra prayoga)
FAQs
It specifies homa-counts: perform 108 oblations for the indicated mantra-forms, then 54 (half), and perform aṅga-mantra offerings at one-tenth of the main mūla-mantra count.
Beyond mythology, it preserves precise ritual engineering—numerical prayoga rules for mantra-based fire offerings—showing the text’s function as a practical handbook for pūjā, homa, and mantra procedure.
Correct counts and proportions are treated as essential for mantra-siddhi and purification; following the prescribed measures is said to align the rite with its intended spiritual efficacy and merit.