Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 16
Chapter 68 — यात्रोत्सवविधिकथनं
Account of the Procedure for the Processional Festival / Yātrā-Utsava Vidhi
चरुं वै श्रपयेत् तत्र पायसं होमयेत्ततः अब्लिङ्गैः वैदिकैर् मन्त्रैस्तीर्थानावाहयेत्ततः
caruṃ vai śrapayet tatra pāyasaṃ homayettataḥ abliṅgaiḥ vaidikair mantraistīrthānāvāhayettataḥ
Dort soll man den caru, den rituellen Reisbrei, kochen; danach bringe man pāyasa, Milchreis, als homa-Opfer in das Feuer dar. Sodann soll man mit vedischen Mantras, die «abliṅga» heißen (nicht durch ein bestimmtes sektiererisches Zeichen oder eine Gottheitsmarke begrenzt), die heiligen tīrthas in das Ritual herbeirufen.
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purana’s primary dialogic frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Perform cooking of caru, offer pāyasa into homa fire, then invoke tīrthas using Vedic ‘abliṅga’ mantras suitable for non-sectarian, broadly applicable sanctification.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Caru-pāyasa homa and tīrtha-āvāhana with abliṅga Vedic mantras","lookup_keywords":["caru","pāyasa","homa","abliṅga mantra","tīrtha-āvāhana"],"quick_summary":"Prepare caru, perform pāyasa oblations, and then invoke sacred tīrthas into the rite using universally applicable Vedic mantras not limited by a specific deity-mark."}
Concept: Yajña as a means of sanctification: through oblation and mantra, sacred presence is invoked and localized.
Application: In multi-sect settings, select broadly Vedic, non-sectarian mantras for āvāhana to maintain inclusivity and ritual validity.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Homa and Tirtha-Avahana Ritual Procedures)
Primary Rasa: Adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: Shanta
Type: Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A homa altar with blazing fire; priest cooks caru in a pot nearby, then offers spoonfuls of pāyasa into the flames; afterward he recites Vedic mantras to invoke tīrthas, visualized as streams of sacred water-light converging into the ritual space.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, homa-kuṇḍa with stylized flames, priest with ladle offering pāyasa, cooking pot for caru, luminous wave-like motifs representing invoked tīrthas entering the altar area, traditional color blocks","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central homa fire with gold radiance, priest in ritual posture offering pāyasa, vessels for caru and pāyasa richly ornamented, gold leaf glow around mantra recitation and sacred-water motifs","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional depiction: pot labeled caru, bowl labeled pāyasa, sequence of offering into fire, then āvāhana gesture; clean lines, soft colors, clear ritual implements","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed yajña scene with fire altar, priest and assistants, ornate vessels, delicate smoke trails forming river-like patterns symbolizing tīrthas, fine architectural backdrop"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: homayet tataḥ: homayet + tataḥ (t doubling in text). mantrais tīrthān: mantraiḥ + tīrthān (ḥ→s before t). tīrthān āvāhayet: tīrthān + āvāhayet (n + ā → nā).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 68 (homa items, abhiṣeka/utsava adjuncts, tīrtha-āvāhana context)
FAQs
It prescribes a homa sequence: cook caru, offer pāyasa as oblations, then perform tīrtha-āvāhana (invocation of sacred tīrthas) using generally applicable Vedic mantras.
It functions like a compact ritual manual—detailing materials (caru, pāyasa), the action (homa), and the mantra-application principle (abliṅga/unspecific)—showing the text’s practical, procedural coverage beyond mythology.
By correctly performing homa with sanctioned offerings and invoking tīrthas, the rite is treated as sanctified by the presence/merit of holy places, supporting purification and the accrual of ritual merit (puṇya).