Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 37
Chapter 34 — होमादिविधिः
The Procedure for Homa and Related Rites
उदरं कुण्डमित्युक्तं योनिर्योनिर्विधीयते गुणत्रयं मेखलाः स्युर्ध्यात्वैवं समिधो दश
udaraṃ kuṇḍamityuktaṃ yoniryonirvidhīyate guṇatrayaṃ mekhalāḥ syurdhyātvaivaṃ samidho daśa
The belly is declared to be the kuṇḍa, the sacrificial fire-pit; the womb is to be conceived as the yoni, the source-seat. The three guṇas are to be visualized as the girdling bands (mekhalās). Having thus meditated, one should offer ten fuel-sticks (samidh).
Lord Agni (teaching sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Internalized homa (antar-yāga): mapping body symbolism onto the fire-pit to stabilize visualization before offering samidh-s in a Vaishnava-tantric pūjā/homa sequence.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Deha-kuṇḍa-bhāvanā: Udara as Kuṇḍa, Yoni as Yoni, Guṇas as Mekhalā","lookup_keywords":["deha-kunda","yoni-bhavana","guna-mekhala","samidh-dasha","antarhoma"],"quick_summary":"Visualize the abdomen as the kuṇḍa and the generative seat as the yoni; conceive the three guṇas as the three girdling bands. After this bhāvanā, offer ten samidh-s to align outer rite with inner contemplation."}
Concept: Bandhu (microcosm–macrocosm correspondence): body as altar; guṇas as structural bands sustaining ritual order.
Application: Use deha-bhāvanā to reduce distraction and make offerings with steadier attention (ekāgratā) during homa.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Agni-vidhi / Homa-kunda-kalpanā)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritualist seated before a small homa-kuṇḍa, simultaneously visualizing the abdomen as the fire-pit and a yoni-seat within; three luminous bands encircle the inner altar; ten samidh sticks are arranged for offering.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat yet rich colors, ritualist in yogic posture before homa-kunda, inner-body lotus/altar diagram subtly shown, three mekhalā bands glowing, ten samidh sticks, sacred calm atmosphere","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, ornate gold leaf highlights on the three mekhalā bands and the homa flames, ritualist with traditional ornaments, ten samidh sticks neatly stacked, temple interior setting","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, instructional clarity: labeled inner visualization (udara=kuṇḍa, yoni=yoni, three guṇas=mekhalā), ritualist offering samidh, delicate linework and soft shading","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed ritual paraphernalia, scholar-priest near fire altar, subtle translucent overlay showing inner abdomen-altar, ten fuel sticks, fine textiles and architectural niche"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कुण्डम्+इति→कुण्डमिति; योनिः+योनिḥ→योनिर्योनिः; योनिḥ+विधीयते→योनिर्विधीयते; स्युः+ध्यात्वा→स्युर्ध्यात्वा; ध्यात्वा+एवम्→ध्यात्वैवम्
Related Themes: Agni Purana 34 (Pūjā-vidhi: kuṇḍa-kalpanā, homa-saṅkhyā, dhyāna)
FAQs
It teaches an inner-homa visualization: the abdomen is treated as the kuṇḍa, the yoni as the generative altar-seat, the three guṇas as mekhalā-bands, followed by a prescribed offering of ten samidh-s.
It blends external Vedic homa procedure with internal yogic/tantric symbolism (body-as-altar, guṇa-mapping), illustrating the text’s characteristic integration of ritual technology, metaphysics, and meditative practice.
By internalizing the fire-ritual through disciplined visualization and measured offerings, the practitioner aligns bodily energies with cosmic principles (guṇas), supporting purification (śuddhi) and merit (puṇya) through focused sacrificial intent.