Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 24
Chapter 34 — होमादिविधिः
The Procedure for Homa and Related Rites
परिमृज्य पटेनाङ्गं सवस्त्रं मण्डलं नयेत् तत्राभ्यर्च्याचरेद्धोमं कुण्डादौ प्राणसंयमी
parimṛjya paṭenāṅgaṃ savastraṃ maṇḍalaṃ nayet tatrābhyarcyācareddhomaṃ kuṇḍādau prāṇasaṃyamī
Having wiped the body with a cloth, and while still clothed, one should proceed to the maṇḍala (ritual ground). There, having performed worship, the self-controlled practitioner—restraining the vital breath (prāṇa)—should perform the homa in the fire-pit (kuṇḍa) and related ritual setups.
Lord Agni (narrating Agni Purana teachings to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Pre-homa discipline: wipe the body, proceed (still clothed) to the maṇḍala, perform preliminary worship, then execute homa in the kuṇḍa with prāṇa-saṃyama (regulated breath/attention).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Maṇḍala Entry, Pūrvārcana, and Homa with Prāṇasaṃyama","lookup_keywords":["maṇḍala","homa","kuṇḍa","prāṇasaṃyama","pūrvārcana"],"quick_summary":"After basic bodily preparation, enter the ritual maṇḍala, complete preliminary worship, and perform homa in the fire-pit with disciplined breath and mind."}
Concept: Outer rite requires inner restraint: prāṇa-saṃyama stabilizes attention, making offerings ‘well-placed’ (samyak) in yajña.
Application: Before homa, settle breath and mind; treat maṇḍala entry and pūrvārcana as mandatory preparation, not optional.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Homa and Mandala Ritual Procedure)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A practitioner wipes his body with a cloth, steps into a drawn maṇḍala on the ground, performs brief worship, then sits near a square/round kuṇḍa with controlled posture and breath to begin homa.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, ritual courtyard with geometric maṇḍala, priest wiping with cloth, then seated by blazing kuṇḍa, lamps and offerings, subdued sacred palette, emphasis on calm restraint.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central homa-kuṇḍa with stylized flames and gold highlights, practitioner in clean garments entering maṇḍala, worship items arranged symmetrically, ornate borders.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear diagrammatic maṇḍala and kuṇḍa, practitioner shown in sequential panels: wiping, entering, worship, homa with prāṇasaṃyama posture, instructional clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed ritual ground with painted maṇḍala, priest near fire-pit, attendants with ladles and offerings, architectural pavilion, naturalistic flames and textiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: paṭenāṅgaṃ → paṭena aṅgam; tatrābhyarcya → tatrābhyarcya (tatra + abhyarcya); ācareddhomaṃ → ācaret homam; kuṇḍādau = kuṇḍa-ādau.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 34 (homa-prayoga sequence; maṇḍala/kuṇḍa preliminaries)
FAQs
It gives a practical pre-homa sequence: bodily cleansing with a cloth, proceeding (clothed) to the consecrated maṇḍala, performing preliminary worship (abhyarcana), and then executing homa at the kuṇḍa with breath-restraint (prāṇa-saṃyama).
It integrates multiple disciplines in one instruction—ritual technology (maṇḍala, kuṇḍa, homa), purity protocol, and yogic control of prāṇa—showing how the Agni Purana systematizes both external rites and internal discipline.
The verse frames homa as effective when preceded by purity and self-restraint; regulating breath and mind supports ritual correctness, concentration, and the purificatory merit (puṇya) traditionally associated with fire-offerings.