Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 28
Chapter 93 — वास्तुपूजादिविधानम्
Procedure for Vāstu-worship and Related Rites
अस्थीनि पापराक्षस्यै रक्तपित्तपलानि च ततो माषौदनं प्राच्यां स्कन्दाय विनिवेदयेत्
asthīni pāparākṣasyai raktapittapalāni ca tato māṣaudanaṃ prācyāṃ skandāya vinivedayet
Der sündhaften Rākṣasī soll man Knochen und ebenso Fleischstücke, mit Blut und Galle vermengt, darbringen; danach soll man in östlicher Richtung Skanda als Opfergabe māṣa-odana (Reis, mit schwarzem Gram/Urad gekocht) darreichen.
Lord Agni (in dialogue with Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purana’s standard narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","secondary_vidya":"Ayurveda","practical_application":"Bali/naivedya allocation to specific beings: offering impure/liminal substances to a rākṣasī (to avert harm) and then a directional (east) food offering (māṣa-odana) to Skanda for protection and auspiciousness.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Bali to pāpa-rākṣasī and eastern māṣa-odana offering to Skanda","lookup_keywords":["bali","pāpa-rākṣasī","asthi","rakta-pitta","skanda","māṣa-odana"],"quick_summary":"Offer bones and blood-bile mixed flesh portions to the rākṣasī; then in the eastern direction offer black-gram rice (māṣa-odana) to Skanda."}
Dosha: Pitta
Concept: Channeling impurity to liminal recipients and reaffirming auspicious order through a protective deity—ritual ecology of purity/impurity.
Application: In protective rites, segregate offerings by recipient and direction; keep impure bali contained and disposed per local ritual law, while auspicious naivedya is offered in sanctified zones.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Bali/Naivedya offerings and deity propitiation)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Type: Direction
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Two-stage offering: at a liminal spot, bones and blood-bile mixed flesh portions are placed for a rākṣasī; then facing east, a clean bowl of māṣa-odana is offered to Skanda at an eastern station with lamps.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, split scene: dark outer edge with rākṣasī bali (bones, red-brown offerings) kept outside; bright eastern shrine with Skanda symbol, priest offering māṣa-odana, strong contrast of liminal vs auspicious.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Skanda in the east with gold halo and ornaments, offering bowl of māṣa-odana highlighted with gold work; rākṣasī bali shown discretely at border area, ornate frame.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear directional diagram: east marked, Skanda altar on prācī side, separate containment area for rākṣasī bali, sequential arrows indicating order of offerings.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtyard with east-facing altar, detailed food bowl of black-gram rice, attendants with lamps; peripheral shadowed corner shows the apotropaic bali placement, refined architectural details."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: pāparākṣasyai → pāpa-rākṣasyai; māṣaudanaṃ → māṣa-odanam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 93 (bali/naivedya sequencing; Skanda propitiation in directional worship context)
FAQs
It prescribes a specific bali/naivedya sequence: an appeasement offering to a rākṣasī (using impure/terrifying substances), followed by an eastern-direction offering of māṣa-odana to Skanda.
It exemplifies the Purana’s practical ritual manual aspect—detailing deity-specific offerings, directional rules, and protective/appeasement rites alongside its broader teachings.
The sequence reflects ritual pacification and protection: unsettling forces are propitiated with suitable bali, while Skanda—associated with protection and victory—is honored properly to secure auspiciousness and ward off harm.