Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 16
Devapūjā, Vaiśvadeva Offering, and Bali (देवपूजावैश्वदेवबलिः)
स चतुर्थीकनाम्नेति पाठः साधुः अश्वपर्णीति ज मेघपर्णीति ज भद्रकाल्यै ततो दत्वा स्थूणायाञ्च तथा श्रिये हिरण्यकेश्यै च तथा वनस्पतय एव च
sa caturthīkanāmneti pāṭhaḥ sādhuḥ aśvaparṇīti ja meghaparṇīti ja bhadrakālyai tato datvā sthūṇāyāñca tathā śriye hiraṇyakeśyai ca tathā vanaspataya eva ca
La lectura correcta es: «con el nombre en dativo (cuarto caso)». Debe recitarse también: «a Aśvaparṇī» y «a Meghaparṇī». Después, habiendo hecho la ofrenda a Bhadrakālī, debe ofrecerse igualmente a Sthūṇā, a Śrī, a Hiraṇyakeśī y también a los Vanaspatis (deidades de la vegetación y de los árboles).
Lord Agni (narrating Agni Purana instructions to the sage Vasiṣṭha, in the standard dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Text-critical and procedural guidance for devatā-nāma homa: confirm the dative-case formula (caturthīka-nāma) and extend offerings to specific śaktis/deities (Aśvaparṇī, Meghaparṇī, Bhadrakālī, Sthūṇā, Śrī, Hiraṇyakeśī, Vanaspatis) in a consecration sequence.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Caturthīka-nāma reading and extended devatā-homa list (Aśvaparṇī to Vanaspatis)","lookup_keywords":["caturthīka-nāma","Aśvaparṇī","Meghaparṇī","Bhadrakālī","Vanaspati"],"quick_summary":"Affirms the correct recitational rule—use dative-form deity names—and supplies an expanded list of recipients for offerings, including protective and prosperity deities and vegetation powers."}
Concept: Mantra-śuddhi includes both correct pāṭha (reading) and correct vibhakti (case-ending); ritual success depends on linguistic exactness and complete devatā-santarpana (satiation).
Application: Verify pāṭha variants in one’s paddhati; recite ‘-āya/-yai’ dative endings while offering; include prosperity (Śrī) and ecological powers (Vanaspatis) to harmonize built space with environment.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Devata-nama-homa (Mantra-nyasa and deity-name offerings)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual manual scene: the officiant corrects a manuscript reading (‘caturthīka-nāma’) and then performs successive oblations to named deities—Bhadrakālī, Sthūṇā, Śrī, Hiraṇyakeśī—and finally gestures toward surrounding trees as Vanaspatis.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, priest with palm-leaf manuscript showing corrected line, fire altar, Bhadrakālī’s protective aura in background, Śrī as lotus motif, trees personified as Vanaspatis, bold colors and temple aesthetic","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf emphasis on Śrī’s lotus and the fire flames, Bhadrakālī as guardian presence, offerings lined in sequence, ornate inscriptions of Aśvaparṇī/Meghaparṇī, rich jewel tones","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional sequence panel: corrected pāṭha note, then stepwise homa recipients (Bhadrakālī, Sthūṇā, Śrī, Hiraṇyakeśī, Vanaspatis), clear labels and refined linework","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholar-priest annotating a manuscript beside a homa-kunda, attendants presenting offerings, garden trees depicted with fine botanical detail to represent Vanaspatis, delicate palette"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चतुर्थीकनाम्नेति = चतुर्थीकनाम्ना + इति; स्थूणायाञ्च = स्थूणायाम् + च; (ज) पदं पाठभेद-चिह्नरूपेण गृहीतम्
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa sections on pāṭha-bheda/śuddha-pāṭha in mantra contexts; Agni Purāṇa pratiṣṭhā/vāstu lists of subsidiary deities (upadevatā) and bali recipients
FAQs
It specifies a technical rule for mantra-recitation: deity-names are to be uttered in the dative (caturthī) when making offerings/oblations, and it lists the sequence of deities to whom offerings are directed.
It blends ritual procedure with grammatical precision (case-governance in mantras), illustrating how the Agni Purana functions as a practical manual that integrates liturgy, deity-lists, and linguistic rules.
Correct case-usage and proper sequencing in offerings are presented as essential for ritual efficacy—ensuring the intended deity-recipients are properly invoked and the offering yields purification and merit (puṇya).