Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 29
Devapūjā, Vaiśvadeva Offering, and Bali (देवपूजावैश्वदेवबलिः)
इ स्वाहा ॐ आत्मकृतस्यैनसो ऽवयजनमसि स्वाहा ॐ मनुष्यकृतस्यैनसो ऽवयजनमसि स्वाहा ॐ एनस एनसो ऽवयजनमसि स्वाहा यच्चाहमेनो विद्वांश् चकार यच्चविद्वांस्तस्य सर्वस्यैनसो ऽवयजनमसि स्वाहा अग्नये स्विष्टिकृते स्वाहा ॐ प्रजापतये स्वाहा विष्णुपूजावैश्वदेवबलिस्ते कीर्तितो मया
i svāhā oṃ ātmakṛtasyainaso 'vayajanamasi svāhā oṃ manuṣyakṛtasyainaso 'vayajanamasi svāhā oṃ enasa enaso 'vayajanamasi svāhā yaccāhameno vidvāṃś cakāra yaccavidvāṃstasya sarvasyainaso 'vayajanamasi svāhā agnaye sviṣṭikṛte svāhā oṃ prajāpataye svāhā viṣṇupūjāvaiśvadevabaliste kīrtito mayā
“I—svāhā. Oṃ, you are the rite of expiation (avayajana) for the sin arising from what is done by oneself—svāhā. Oṃ, you are the rite of expiation for the sin arising from what is done by another—svāhā. Oṃ, you are the rite of expiation for sin—svāhā. And whatever sin I have committed knowingly, and whatever unknowingly—of all that sin you are the rite of expiation—svāhā. Oblation to Agni, Sviṣṭakṛt, who perfects the well-offered sacrifice—svāhā. Oṃ, oblation to Prajāpati—svāhā. Thus have I described to you the worship of Viṣṇu and the Vaiśvadeva-bali.”
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Prāyaścitta within Vaiśvadeva-bali: expiatory oblations for sins done by self/others, knowingly/unknowingly, concluding with offerings to Agni Sviṣṭakṛt and Prajāpati.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Mantra","entry_title":"Avayajana (expiatory) svāhā-mantras in Vaiśvadeva-bali","lookup_keywords":["avayajana","svāhā","Sviṣṭakṛt","Prajāpati","prāyaścitta"],"quick_summary":"Recite expiatory svāhā formulas to neutralize faults arising from one’s own acts, others’ acts, and known/unknown lapses, sealing the domestic rite with Agni and Prajāpati oblations."}
Concept: Acknowledgement of human fallibility and systematic purification through mantra-yajña (expiation as inner and outer cleansing).
Application: Use a brief daily/periodic confession-and-expiation formula to address inadvertent lapses, reinforcing ethical vigilance and ritual completeness.
Khanda Section: Pūjā-vidhi (Vaiśvadeva-bali & Prāyaścitta / Atonement in domestic ritual)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A domestic fire-altar with the householder offering small oblations while reciting repeated ‘svāhā’ expiation formulas, concluding with offerings to Agni Sviṣṭakṛt and Prajāpati.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, glowing homa fire in a small altar, householder seated with ladle, rhythmic svāhā recitation implied by repeated script motifs, calm yet intense purification atmosphere","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central homa-kunda with stylized flames, Agni subtly personified, gold foil accents on fire and vessels, inscriptions ‘svāhā’ around the border","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear instructional homa scene: ladle, ghee pot, kusa grass, altar layout; small labels for Agni Sviṣṭakṛt and Prajāpati offerings","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate indoor ritual with detailed utensils, thin smoke rising, scribe-like repetition of ‘svāhā’ in decorative margins"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ātmakṛtasyainaso → ātma-kṛtasya enasaḥ; manuṣyakṛtasyainaso → manuṣya-kṛtasya enasaḥ; enaso 'vayajanamasi → enasaḥ avayajanam asi; yaccāhameno → yat ca aham enaḥ; yaccavidvāṃs → yat ca avidvān; sarvasyainaso → sarvasya enasaḥ; viṣṇupūjāvaiśvadevabaliste → viṣṇu-pūjā-vaiśvadeva-baliḥ te.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 263 (Viṣṇu-pūjā + Vaiśvadeva-bali sequence); Agni Purana 264 (śānti and snāna observances that complement expiation)
FAQs
It gives a set of svāhā-mantras used as avayajana (atoning oblations) to cleanse sins committed by oneself or through others, including knowingly and unknowingly, concluding with offerings to Agni as Sviṣṭakṛt and to Prajāpati within the Viṣṇu-pūjā/Vaiśvadeva-bali context.
It exemplifies the Purāṇa’s manual-like coverage of practical religion—supplying deployable liturgical formulas (mantras), their ritual targets (Agni, Prajāpati), and their function (expiation), alongside household rites like Vaiśvadeva-bali and Viṣṇu worship.
The verse frames karma-cleansing as a structured rite: faults (enas) from different sources—self/other, deliberate/inadvertent—are ritually acknowledged and offered into fire, seeking purification and restoration of ritual and moral order through Agni and Prajāpati.