Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 9
Chapter 164: नवग्रहहोमः
Navagraha Fire-Offering
एकैकस्यात्राष्टशतमष्टाविंशतिरेव वा होतव्या मधुसर्पिर्भ्यां दध्ना चैव समन्विताः
ekaikasyātrāṣṭaśatamaṣṭāviṃśatireva vā hotavyā madhusarpirbhyāṃ dadhnā caiva samanvitāḥ
Here, for each (mantra/deity), one should offer either one hundred and twenty-eight oblations, or else twenty-eight, each oblation being accompanied with honey, ghee, and curd.
Lord Agni
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Determines the count of oblations per deity/mantra and specifies accompanying dravyas (madhu, sarpis, dadhi) for homa performance.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Āhuti-saṅkhyā and dravya-yoga: 128 or 28 oblations with honey, ghee, curd","lookup_keywords":["āhuti","128","28","madhu","sarpis"],"quick_summary":"Prescribes either 128 or 28 offerings per target, each mixed/attended with honey, ghee, and curd—standardizing both quantity and substance of homa."}
Dosha: Tridosha
Concept: Saṅkhyā-niyama (regulated repetition) and dravya-niyama (regulated substance) intensify saṅkalpa and stabilize ritual intention.
Application: Plan materials by multiplying āhuti count by per-offering measure; choose 28 for shorter prayoga, 128 for fuller anushṭhāna.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Homa and ritual offerings)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A priest performs homa, offering measured spoonfuls into the fire while counting 28 or 128; bowls of honey, ghee, and curd are arranged beside the altar.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, homa scene with priest holding sruk, visible counting beads or tally marks, three vessels labeled madhu/sarpis/dadhi, bright Agni flames, rhythmic composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, richly ornamented altar, gold-highlighted flames, priest mid-offering, three gleaming bowls (honey, ghee, curd) with gold accents, sacred geometry border","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional depiction of āhuti counting (28/128) with neat arrangement of vessels, calm interior, fine linework on ladles and bowls","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed utensils and textures of honey/ghee/curd, priest and assistant tallying offerings, delicate flame rendering, architectural pavilion backdrop"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional-ritual","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: एकैकस्यात्र = एकैकस्य + अत्र; अत्राष्टशतम् = अत्र + अष्टशतम्; अष्टशतमष्टाविंशतिः = अष्टशतम् + अष्टाविंशतिः; मधुसर्पिर्भ्यां = मधु + सर्पिःभ्याम्; चैव = च + एव.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Pūjā-vidhi sections on āhuti-krama and saṅkhyā-niyama (contextual); Agni Purana: Naivedya/havis descriptions adjoining this passage (contextual)
FAQs
It specifies the counted number of oblations per mantra/deity (128, or alternatively 28) and prescribes the offering-substances—honey, ghee, and curd—to be included in the homa.
It preserves a precise, procedural detail of ritual technology—numerical counts and material components of offerings—showing the text’s role as a manual that codifies practical liturgy alongside many other sciences and disciplines.
Performing homa with correct counts and prescribed pure substances is taught as a means of ritual correctness (śuddhi) and merit (puṇya), supporting purification and the intended efficacy (siddhi) of the rite.