Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 25
Chapter 93 — वास्तुपूजादिविधानम्
Procedure for Vāstu-worship and Related Rites
चतुष्पदे निविष्टाय ब्रह्मणे मध्मदेशतः पञ्चगव्याक्षतोपेतञ्चरुं साज्यं निवेदयेत्
catuṣpade niviṣṭāya brahmaṇe madhmadeśataḥ pañcagavyākṣatopetañcaruṃ sājyaṃ nivedayet
Dem auf einem vierbeinigen Sitz Platz genommenen Brahmanen soll man aus der mittleren Position ein Opfer von caru (gekochter Opferreis/Grütze) zusammen mit Ghee darbringen, begleitet von pañcagavya und akṣata (ungebrochenen Reiskörnern).
Lord Agni (narrating Agni Purana’s ritual instructions, traditionally to sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Formal naivedya presentation protocol to a Brahmin/Brāhmaṇa-as-Brahman representation: seat specification, central placement, and offering components (caru, ghee, pañcagavya, akṣata).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Naivedya of caru with ghee, pañcagavya and akṣata to Brahmin on four-legged seat","lookup_keywords":["catuṣpada-āsana","caru","ājya","pañcagavya","akṣata"],"quick_summary":"Seat the Brahmin on a four-legged seat; from the central position offer caru with ghee, accompanied by pañcagavya and unbroken rice grains."}
Concept: Atithi-satkara and brāhmaṇa-pūjā as a dharmic conduit for yajña merit; centrality and purity of substances reinforce sanctity.
Application: In domestic/temple rites, keep the principal recipient in the central seat and offer sanctified food with purity markers (akṣata, ghee, pañcagavya).
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Homa & Bali offerings; Brahmana-bhojana and ritual naivedya procedures)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A Brahmin seated on a sturdy four-legged seat at the center of a ritual area; the worshipper presents a bowl of caru with ghee, with pañcagavya and akṣata arranged beside it.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, central ritual pavilion, Brahmin on catuṣpada seat, priest offering golden ghee-topped caru, small vessels labeled pañcagavya, akṣata grains, oil lamps.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold highlights on the seat legs and offering bowls, central composition, richly ornamented ritual cloth, caru with glossy ghee, akṣata in a small dish.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean instructional depiction: central zone marked, four-legged seat clearly shown, sequence of items (caru, ghee, pañcagavya, akṣata) laid out neatly.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, indoor court-like ritual setting, Brahmin on a low four-legged stool, attendant holding vessels, detailed food textures for caru and ghee, fine patterned carpet."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: madhmadeśataḥ interpreted as madhya-deśataḥ; pañcagavyākṣatopetañcaruṃ → pañca-gavya-akṣata-upetaṃ carum; sājyaṃ → sa-ājyam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 93 (naivedya/bali and brāhmaṇa-bhojana context)
FAQs
It prescribes the correct protocol for presenting naivedya—caru mixed with ghee, accompanied by pañcagavya and akṣata—to a Brahmin/priest seated properly, emphasizing ritual purity and correct placement (central position).
By detailing precise materials (caru, ghṛta, akṣata, pañcagavya) and ceremonial etiquette (proper seating and positioning), it functions as a practical ritual manual alongside the text’s many other domains like polity, medicine, and arts.
Offering sanctified food with purificatory substances (especially pañcagavya) is treated as a merit-generating act that supports ritual cleanliness, honors the priestly function, and strengthens the efficacy (siddhi) of the rite.