Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 98
Ṛग्विधानम् (Ṛgvidhāna) — Applications of Ṛgvedic Mantras through Japa and Homa
क्षीरवृक्षास्तथेध्मन्तु होमा वै सर्वकामदाः समिधः कण्ठकिन्यश् च राजिका रुधिरं विषं
kṣīravṛkṣāstathedhmantu homā vai sarvakāmadāḥ samidhaḥ kaṇṭhakinyaś ca rājikā rudhiraṃ viṣaṃ
Likewise, trees that exude milky latex are to be used as samidh fuel-sticks for the homa; such homas are said to bestow the fulfillment of all desires. (Among the offering/fuel materials are) kaṇṭhakinī, rājikā (mustard), blood, and poison.
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s ritual-technical sections)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Selection of homa fuel and oblation substances: use latex-bearing (kṣīra-vṛkṣa) samidh for sarva-kāma (wish-fulfillment) rites; note specialized/forceful dravyas like kaṇṭhakinī, mustard, blood, and poison for particular prayogas.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Homa-dravya: kṣīra-vṛkṣa samidh and special oblations (rājikā, rudhira, viṣa)","lookup_keywords":["kṣīra-vṛkṣa","samidh","sarvakāmadā homa","rājikā","rudhira-viṣa"],"quick_summary":"Milky/latex-bearing trees are prescribed as fuel-sticks for homas said to grant desired results. The text also lists potent materials—kaṇṭhakinī, mustard, blood, and poison—indicating specialized, result-specific ritual applications."}
Concept: Material correspondences (dravya-guṇa) are harnessed through Agni to shape outcomes; choice of samidh/dravya is a technical lever in ritual science.
Application: For benign kāmya homa, prioritize prescribed samidh (kṣīra-vṛkṣa). Treat listed fierce dravyas as restricted/specialized and employ only under proper lineage, safeguards, and dharmic constraints.
Khanda Section: Agneya-vidya (Homa-dravya / Samidh-nighaṇṭu: ritual fuel-woods and oblation materials)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Type: Mountain
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritualist selects fuel-sticks from latex-bearing trees and arranges oblation bowls labeled mustard, kaṇṭhakinī, and other potent substances beside a blazing homa fire.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: vivid homa fire with stylized flames; bundles of milky-tree samidh; ritualist holding a ladle; bowls of rājikā and dark fierce dravyas; dramatic red-black-gold palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: Agni and homa-kuṇḍa central with gold-leaf flames; ornate containers for samidh and offerings; strong contrast between auspicious milk/ghee vessels and fierce dravya bowls.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: semi-diagrammatic botanical identification—latex-bearing tree branches, labeled samidh bundles; neat arrangement of offerings; precise, instructional composition.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: naturalistic rendering of trees being cut for samidh; indoor pavilion with homa; fine detail of containers and textures (seeds, liquids), subdued yet intense atmosphere."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: क्षीरवृक्षास्तथेध्मन्तु → क्षीरवृक्षाः + तथा + इध्मम् + तु; कण्ठकिन्यश् च → कण्ठकिन्यः + च
Related Themes: Agni Purana homa-dravya and samidh-nighaṇṭu style lists (near 258); Agni Purana mantra-prayoga classifications of śānti/puṣṭi/vaśya/ugra rites
FAQs
It specifies categories of homa materials—especially latex-bearing trees as fuel (samidh/edhma)—and notes their intended ritual result (sarva-kāma-prada), while also listing potent substances used in specialized rites.
By cataloging precise ritual inputs (woods, herbs, and powerful substances) and linking them to outcomes, the text functions like a practical ritual manual—one of the Agni Purana’s hallmark encyclopedic features.
Correctly chosen samidh and offerings are presented as karmically efficacious—supporting desired aims through regulated fire-ritual performance, where material selection is treated as a key determinant of ritual fruit.