Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 2
Chapter 83 — निर्वाणदीक्षाकथनम्
Description of the Nirvāṇa Initiation
एकैकया तदाहुत्या प्रत्येकं तत्त्रयेण वा वीजगर्भशिखार्धन्तु हूं फडन्तध्रुवादिना
ekaikayā tadāhutyā pratyekaṃ tattrayeṇa vā vījagarbhaśikhārdhantu hūṃ phaḍantadhruvādinā
Mit je einer Opfergabe für jedes Mantra, oder auch mit je drei Opfergaben, soll man die Darbringungen vollziehen, indem man Mantras verwendet, die die Anteile bīja (Samen), garbha und śikhā enthalten, zusammen mit den festen (dhruvā) Formeln und den Endungen „hūṃ“ und „phaḍ“ und dergleichen.
Lord Agni (in the Agni Purana’s standard narration to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Homa-japa protocol: deciding oblation count (1 or 3 per mantra) and applying mantra-aṅgas (bīja/garbha/śikhā) with dhruvā formulas and protective endings (hūṃ, phaḍ).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Homa: Oblation count and mantra-aṅga usage (bīja–garbha–śikhā with dhruvā, hūṃ/phaḍ)","lookup_keywords":["homa","āhuti count","bīja garbha śikhā","dhruvā mantra","hūṃ phaḍ"],"quick_summary":"Offer one or three āhutis per mantra, employing the mantra’s aṅgas—bīja, garbha, and śikhā—together with dhruvā (fixed) formulas and standard endings like hūṃ and phaḍ for sealing/protection."}
Concept: Mantra is operationally segmented (aṅga) and combined with fixed formulas; efficacy depends on correct count, sequence, and sealing syllables.
Application: Standardize homa performance: choose āhuti count, keep mantra-aṅgas intact, and use hūṃ/phaḍ to conclude and protect the act.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Mantra-japa & Homa-vidhi / Tantric-style oblation procedures)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A homa scene with the officiant reciting segmented mantras—bīja, garbha, śikhā—while placing one or three offerings into the fire; written mantra segments appear as scroll-like labels near the altar, ending with hūṃ and phaḍ.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, homa-kuṇḍa centered, priest counting āhutis on fingers, stylized Sanskrit syllables ‘hūṃ’ ‘phaḍ’ in decorative cartouches, yantra backdrop, warm ochres and reds.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-highlighted flames, priest holding ladle, three small offering bowls indicating triple āhuti option, ornate script panels for bīja/garbha/śikhā, rich jewel tones.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic layout: three labeled mantra parts (bīja/garbha/śikhā) arranged around the fire, priest performing measured offerings, clean borders and soft shading.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed ritual implements (sruk/sruva), attendants with ghee and samidhs, subtle calligraphy panels showing hūṃ/phaḍ, precise depiction of one vs three offerings."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तदाहुत्या→तत्-आहुत्या; तत्त्रयेण→तत्-त्रयेण; वीजगर्भशिखार्धन्तु→vīja-garbha-śikhā-ardham tu; फडन्तध्रुवादिना→phaḍ-anta-dhruva-ādinā
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa 83 (homa-mantra construction and āhuti rules)
FAQs
It specifies the practical homa procedure: each mantra is offered either once or three times, employing mantra-components (bīja/garbha/śikhā) and standard dhruvā-type formulas, with forceful mantric endings like hūṃ and phaḍ.
Beyond mythology, it preserves operational ritual technology—counting rules for oblations and the applied structure of mantras (their ‘limbs’ and endings)—showing the text’s manual-like coverage of worship and tantric-ritual method.
Correct mantra-structure and prescribed oblation counts are presented as essential for ritual efficacy (siddhi) and purification, ensuring the offering is properly ‘sealed’ by protective syllables like hūṃ/phaḍ and stabilized by dhruvā formulas.