Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 43
Agnisthāpana-vidhi (Procedure for Establishing the Sacred Fire) and Protective Īśāna-kalpa Homa Sequences
ईशेन वह्निमभ्यर्च्य दत्वास्त्रेणाहुतित्रयं कुर्यात् सर्वात्मना नाम शिवाग्निस्त्वं हुताशन
īśena vahnimabhyarcya datvāstreṇāhutitrayaṃ kuryāt sarvātmanā nāma śivāgnistvaṃ hutāśana
Nachdem man das Feuer mit dem (Īśāna-)Mantra verehrt und sodann drei Opfergaben mit dem Astra-Mantra dargebracht hat, soll man es mit dem ganzen Wesen vollziehen und sprechen: „Dem Namen nach bist du Śivāgni—o Hutāśana (Feuer), nimm die Opfergabe an.“
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha; standard Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Īśāna-kalpa homa step: worship Agni with Īśāna mantra, then perform three astra-mantra oblations, affirming Agni as Śivāgni for complete offering.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Īśāna-arcana & Astra-tri-āhuti (Śivāgni-bhāva)","lookup_keywords":["Īśāna mantra","astra-mantra","tri-āhuti","Śivāgni","hutāśana"],"quick_summary":"Consecrate the fire as Śiva’s fire by Īśāna worship, then offer three oblations with the Astra-mantra; maintain total personal engagement (sarvātmanā) while addressing Agni as Śivāgni."}
Concept: Sarvātmanā—totality of self in ritual action; identification of element (Agni) with supreme principle (Śiva) for efficacy.
Application: Use astra-mantra oblations as a protective closure/fortification step and keep unwavering attention to avoid ritual leakage (apacāra).
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Isana-kalpa / Agni-homa mantra-prayoga)
Primary Rasa: vīra
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"The priest first offers flowers/incense to the fire as Īśāna, then makes three decisive ghee offerings with a protective astra-mantra; the fire is visualized as Śivāgni with a Śiva-like aura.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, intense stylized flames with a subtle Śiva visage within, priest performing three counted offerings, protective circular aura lines indicating astra-rakṣā, traditional mural palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Agni with gold halo labeled Śivāgni, priest making three oblations (three small gold-highlighted arcs), ornate temple lamps, rich gold work.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, step-by-step panel: (1) Īśāna worship of fire, (2) three astra oblations marked 1-2-3, (3) mantra caption ‘Śivāgnistvaṃ hutāśana’, clean instructional clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined ritual interior, three sequential moments shown as a triptych, delicate calligraphy for astra-mantra, fire rendered with luminous pigments and subtle anthropomorphic presence."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वह्निमभ्यर्च्य = वह्निम् अभ्यर्च्य; दत्वास्त्रेण = दत्वा अस्त्रेण; अस्त्रेणाहुतित्रयम् = अस्त्रेण आहुति-त्रयम्; शिवाग्निः = शिव-अग्निः; शिवाग्निस्त्वम् = शिव-अग्निः त्वम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 75.40-75.42 (pañcabrahma linking and unification); Agni Purana 75.44 (post-homa transition toward pitṛ offerings)
FAQs
It teaches a precise homa sequence: worship the fire with the Īśāna-mantra, then offer three oblations using the Astra-mantra, while identifying the fire as Śivāgni (Śiva present as fire).
It preserves applied ritual technology—mantra-prayoga, oblation counts, and protective ‘astra’ sealing—showing the Purāṇa functioning as a practical manual of worship alongside its mythic and doctrinal material.
Wholehearted performance and correct mantra-application sacralize the homa, framing Agni as Śiva’s embodiment; this is traditionally held to purify obstacles, protect the rite, and generate merit through properly offered āhutis.