Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 24
Worship of Gaurī and Others (Gauryādi-pūjā) — Mantra, Maṇḍala, Mudrā, Homa, and Mṛtyuñjaya Kalaśa-Rite
होमयेत् क्षीरदुर्वाज्यममृताञ्च पुनर्नवाम् पायसञ्च पुराडाशमयुतन्तु जपेन्मनुं
homayet kṣīradurvājyamamṛtāñca punarnavām pāyasañca purāḍāśamayutantu japenmanuṃ
Man soll das Homa mit Milch, Dūrvā-Gras und Ghee darbringen, ebenso mit Amṛtā (Guḍūcī) und Punarnavā; ferner mit Pāyasa (Milchreis) und Purōḍāśa (Opferkuchen). Danach soll man das Mantra zehntausendmal rezitieren.
Lord Agni (traditionally narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Ayurveda","practical_application":"Dravya-homa: selecting specific offerings (milk, dūrvā, ghee, guḍūcī, punarnavā, pāyasa, puroḍāśa) and completing the rite with a fixed japa-count (10,000) for siddhi/śānti/ārogya aims.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Homa-dravya-saṅgraha and Daśa-sahasra-japa-niyama","lookup_keywords":["kṣīra","dūrvā","ghṛta","guḍūcī amṛtā","punarnavā"],"quick_summary":"Perform homa with specified nourishing and medicinal substances, then stabilize the rite’s fruit by reciting the mantra ten thousand times."}
Dosha: Tridosha
Concept: Dravya (material offering) and mantra (sound discipline) jointly produce saṃskāra—ritual transformation aimed at welfare (śānti/ārogya).
Application: Follow exact dravya list and complete a fixed japa-saṅkhyā (10,000) as a niyama to ‘seal’ the rite.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Agni-hotra & Homa-vidhi (Ritual Procedures)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: śānta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A homa altar surrounded by offerings: bowls of milk and ghee, bundles of dūrvā, guḍūcī vines, punarnavā leaves, a pot of pāyasa, and a sacrificial cake; the practitioner counts japa beads after offerings.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized homa-kuṇḍa with arranged dravyas (milk pot, ghee ladle, dūrvā sheaf, guḍūcī vine, punarnavā leaves), priest holding japamālā, warm earthy palette, iconic symmetry.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style with gold highlights on vessels and altar, richly decorated dravya trays, priest with japamālā, luminous flames, ornate border, saturated reds/greens.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, semi-diagrammatic clarity: each offering clearly depicted near the kuṇḍa, priest transitioning from homa to japa with mālā, delicate linework and soft colors.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed still-life of ritual substances around a small fire-altar, attendant presenting pāyasa and puroḍāśa, practitioner with rosary, fine textures and naturalistic herbs."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: kṣīradurvājyamamṛtāñca = kṣīra-durvā-ājyam + amṛtām + ca; pāyasañca = pāyasam + ca; purāḍāśamayutantu = purāḍāśam + ayutam + tu; japenmanuṃ = japet + manum.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 325 (homa and mudrā procedures); Agni Purana 325.26 (mantra-aushadha efficacy)
FAQs
It prescribes specific homa-dravyas (milk, dūrvā, ghee, guḍūcī/amṛtā, punarnavā, pāyasa, purōḍāśa) and sets a quantified japa regimen of ayuta (10,000) repetitions of the relevant mantra.
It combines procedural ritual science (homa materials and offering types like purōḍāśa) with materia sacra that overlaps with Ayurvedic herb knowledge (guḍūcī, punarnavā), illustrating the Purana’s cross-domain cataloging of rites, substances, and disciplined practice.
The verse frames purification and merit through disciplined fire-offering and sustained mantra-repetition, where correct substances and a fixed japa count function as a regulated means to accrue ritual efficacy (siddhi) and spiritual purification.