Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 5
Chapter 164: नवग्रहहोमः
Navagraha Fire-Offering
गन्धाश् च वलयश् चैव धूपो देयस्तु गुग्गुलुः कर्तव्या मन्त्रयन्तश् च चरवः प्रतिदैवतं
gandhāś ca valayaś caiva dhūpo deyastu gugguluḥ kartavyā mantrayantaś ca caravaḥ pratidaivataṃ
Man soll Duftstoffe und auch Armreife (valaya) darbringen; und als Räucherwerk ist Guggulu (wohlriechendes Harz) zu opfern. Während man die passenden Mantras rezitiert, sind die rituellen Speiseoblaten (caru) für jede Gottheit jeweils gesondert zuzubereiten und darzubringen.
Lord Agni (in discourse to the sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Upacāra and homa support: offering gandha, ornamental bands, guggulu incense, and preparing caru oblations per deity while chanting the proper mantras.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Upacāra and Caru-Homa per Devatā (Guggulu dhūpa)","lookup_keywords":["gandha","guggulu-dhūpa","caru","pratidaivatam","mantra-yukta-homa"],"quick_summary":"Standardizes offerings: perfumes, bracelets, guggulu incense, and deity-specific caru oblations performed with mantra recitation—useful for multi-deity rites like navagraha or devayajana."}
Concept: Mantra and dravya together complete worship; ‘pratidaivatam’ emphasizes specificity—each devatā receives its own properly dedicated oblation.
Application: Plan a homa with separate caru portions and mantras for each deity (e.g., each graha), ensuring correct upacāras and incense.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Deva-yajana, Homa and Upachara offerings)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A homa altar with fire blazing; priest offers caru with ladle, guggulu incense smoke rising; trays of perfumes and ornamental bands prepared; separate bowls labeled for each deity.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, homa-kunda with stylized flames, priest in profile chanting, thick curling incense smoke, offerings arranged symmetrically, warm reds and browns","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, luminous fire altar with gold highlights, priest holding ladle, ornate offering vessels, guggulu smoke rendered as decorative swirls, rich gold border","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic scene showing sequence: gandha, valaya, dhūpa (guggulu), then caru into fire; clean lines, labeled vessels, calm palette","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed yajña scene in a pavilion, attendants holding trays of perfumes and ornaments, incense brazier, fine textiles and architectural arches"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: gandhāś ca → gandhāḥ + ca; valayaś caiva → valayāḥ + ca + eva; deyastu → deyaḥ + tu; mantrayantaś ca → mantrayantaḥ + ca.
Related Themes: Agni Purana devayajana/homa-upacāra passages near 164.5 and subsequent mantra-prayoga (164.6)
FAQs
It specifies concrete upacāras in deity-worship—offering gandha (perfume), valaya (ornamental bands), and dhūpa using guggulu, and preparing caru oblations with mantra-recitation, separately for each deity.
It preserves procedural, item-by-item ritual technology (materials like guggulu and ritual foods like caru, plus the rule of deity-specific offerings), showing the Agni Purāṇa’s practical manual-like coverage alongside its theology.
Correctly offering prescribed upacāras with mantras and deity-specific intent is taught as a means of ritual purity, pleasing the deities, and accruing puṇya through disciplined, rule-based worship.