Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 4
Utpāta-śānti
Pacification of Portents
पद्मानि चाथ विल्वानि हुत्वाज्यं वा तिलान् श्रियः एकन्तु पौरुषं सूक्तं प्रतिवेदन्तु सर्वदं
padmāni cātha vilvāni hutvājyaṃ vā tilān śriyaḥ ekantu pauruṣaṃ sūktaṃ prativedantu sarvadaṃ
Nachdem man Lotosblüten und Bilva-Blätter dargebracht hat — oder Ghee oder Sesam als Opfergabe ins Feuer gegeben hat — zum Erlangen der Śrī (des Wohlstands), soll man insbesondere das Pauruṣa-sūkta rezitieren; es wird verkündet, dass es zu allen Zeiten alles (Erwünschte) gewährt.
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha in ritual procedure)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Specifies offerings (lotus, bilva, ghee, sesame) for Śrī-oriented homa/pujā and recommends Pauruṣa Sūkta with prativeda as a universally efficacious recitation.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Śrī-upāsanā offerings and Pauruṣa-sūkta prativeda","lookup_keywords":["padma offering","bilva leaves","tilahoma","Pauruṣa Sūkta","prativeda"],"quick_summary":"For prosperity rites, offer lotus/bilva or oblate ghee/sesame, and especially recite the Pauruṣa Sūkta with supplementary recitation, presented as an all-purpose bestower of results."}
Alamkara Type: Arthāntaranyāsa (assertive commendation: ‘sarvadaṃ’—bestower of all)
Concept: Material upacāra + Vedic hymn recitation as a complete upāsanā; Puruṣa-sūkta functions as a comprehensive integrator of aims (sarva-phala).
Application: In prosperity worship, standardize offerings (padma/bilva or ghee/tila) and anchor the rite with Puruṣa-sūkta recitation as a general-purpose śānti/puṣṭi hymn.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Lakshmi/Śrī-upāsanā and Homa offerings)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A prosperity pūjā/homa arrangement: lotuses and bilva leaves placed before a fire altar; ghee and sesame ready for oblation; the Puruṣa Sūkta text is recited as the central hymn.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, altar with padma flowers and bilva leaves, stylized flames, priest chanting Puruṣa Sūkta, warm earthy palette with gold-ochre highlights","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, lavish lotus offerings, bilva leaves, gold-leaf detailing on vessels and haloed deity-symbol of Puruṣa/Nārāyaṇa, rich ornamental frame","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean instructional still-life of offerings (padma, bilva, ghee, tila) labeled visually, priest reciting from manuscript, balanced composition","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined ritual tableau with detailed flora (lotus) and leaves, delicate utensils, calligraphic strip ‘Pauruṣa Sūkta’, intimate courtly-patron setting"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Madhyamavati","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: cātha ← ca + atha; hutvājyaṃ ← hutvā + ājyam; prativedantu ← prativedam + tu.
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa 262.3 (Śrīsūkta japa-homa); Agni Purāṇa ritual sections on homa-dravya and pūjā-upacāra elsewhere
FAQs
It prescribes specific homa/pujā offerings—lotus, bilva, ghee, or sesame—aimed at Śrī (prosperity) and emphasizes recitation of the Pauruṣa Sūkta as the key mantra-practice.
It exemplifies the Agni Purana’s practical ritual handbook style: it links concrete dravya (ritual substances) with a Vedic sūkta (mantra-source) to produce a targeted result (śrī), showing how the text integrates Vedic hymnody into later Purāṇic worship procedures.
Offering pure substances into fire and reciting a Vedic hymn is presented as a merit-producing act that aligns the worshipper with cosmic order (Puruṣa), thereby attracting Śrī—ongoing prosperity and auspiciousness.