Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 8
Chapter 164: नवग्रहहोमः
Navagraha Fire-Offering
अर्कः पालाशः खदिरो ह्य् अपामार्गोथ पिप्पलः उदुम्बरः शमी दुर्वा कुशाश् च समिधः क्रमात्
arkaḥ pālāśaḥ khadiro hy apāmārgotha pippalaḥ udumbaraḥ śamī durvā kuśāś ca samidhaḥ kramāt
In due order, the prescribed kindling-sticks (samidh) are: arka, palāśa, khadira, apāmārga, pippala, udumbara, śamī, and also durvā grass and kuśa grass.
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha in ritual procedure)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Selection of specific samidh (kindling woods and grasses) in correct sequence for homa to ensure ritual efficacy and conformity to vidhi.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Samidh-krama: prescribed kindling materials for homa","lookup_keywords":["samidh","arka","palāśa","khadira","apāmārga"],"quick_summary":"Gives an ordered list of woods/grasses used as kindling in fire ritual; supports standardized procurement and correct sequencing in homa."}
Concept: Ritual correctness (vidhi) includes material correctness; dravya-śuddhi and krama are part of yajña-śakti.
Application: Prepare homa supplies by verifying species and maintaining an ordered bundle for sequential offering.
Khanda Section: Agni-vidhi / Homa-dravya (Vedic fire ritual materials and procedures)
Primary Rasa: Adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: Shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual assistant arranges bundles of arka, palāśa, khadira, apāmārga, pippala, udumbara, śamī twigs, with durvā and kuśa grasses, beside a homa fire-pit in a clear sequence.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, homa-kuṇḍa with stylized flames, neatly stacked labeled samidh bundles (arka, palāśa, khadira, apāmārga, pippala, udumbara, śamī), durvā and kuśa in green arcs, priests in white, earthy reds/ochres","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, altar foreground, ornate vessels, gold-highlighted bundles of sacred woods, kuśa and durvā rendered with fine green detailing, priest holding samidh, gold halo around Agni flame","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, semi-diagrammatic layout showing the order (krama) of samidh placement, clean lines, soft colors, instructional labels, calm ritual interior","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed botanical rendering of twigs and grasses, attendants sorting bundles on a carpeted platform near a small fire altar, fine borders and naturalistic textures"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional-ritual","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ह्य् = हि (before vowel); अपामार्गोथ = अपामार्गः + अथ; कुशाश् = कुशाः (final visarga/sandhi normalization).
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Agni-vidhi and homa-dravya listings (contextual); Agni Purana: Pūjā-vidhi sections on dravya-śuddhi (contextual)
FAQs
It gives a technical, ordered list of approved samidh (fuel/kindling) materials to be offered into the homa fire—specific trees and sacred grasses used in Vedic-style ritual combustion.
By cataloging precise ritual resources (botanical fuel types) and their correct sequence for use, it functions like a practical manual—one of the many applied-knowledge domains (puja-vidhi, yajña procedure) covered alongside other sciences in the text.
Using prescribed samidh is treated as a correctness condition for homa: it supports ritual purity, aligns the offering with śāstric injunction, and is understood to enhance the efficacy and merit (puṇya) of the sacrifice.