Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 12
Chapter 305 — Narasiṃha and Related Mantras (नारसिंहादिमन्त्राः)
आज्यापामार्गसमिधो ह्य् अक्षतं तिलसर्षपौ पायसं गव्यमाज्यञ्च सहस्राष्टकसंख्यया
ājyāpāmārgasamidho hy akṣataṃ tilasarṣapau pāyasaṃ gavyamājyañca sahasrāṣṭakasaṃkhyayā
Ghee (ājya), bûchettes d’apāmārga, riz intact (akṣata), graines de sésame et de moutarde, pāyasa (riz au lait rituel) et encore ghee de vache : tout cela doit être offert/utilisé au compte de mille huit (1008).
Lord Agni (instructor-narrator of ritual procedure, addressing the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Selection of homa-dravyas and fixing the japa/homa count (1008) for a standardized pūjā-vidhi.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Homa-dravya list and 1008 count (sahasrāṣṭaka)","lookup_keywords":["homa-dravya","sahasrāṣṭaka","apāmārga-samidha","akṣata","pāyasa"],"quick_summary":"Specifies the standard substances for offering—ghee, apāmārga fuel, akṣata, sesame, mustard, and pāyasa—performed in the fixed count of 1008 for ritual efficacy."}
Concept: Saṅkhyā-niyama (fixed sacred count) and dravya-śuddhi (purifying substances) as supports for mantra-siddhi.
Application: Maintain exact counts (1008) and prescribed materials to avoid doṣa in homa and to stabilize the rite’s intended result.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Homa-dravya & Japa-sankhya / ritual materials and counts)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A homa-kuṇḍa beside a neatly arranged set of offerings: ghee ladle, apāmārga sticks, bowls of akṣata, sesame, mustard, and a pot of pāyasa; a counter-string or tally indicating 1008 offerings.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, warm earthy palette, priest seated by homa-kuṇḍa, neatly depicted dravya bowls (akṣata, tila, sarṣapa, pāyasa), apāmārga samidh stacked, sacred fire glowing, stylized ornaments, flat perspective.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, rich reds and greens, gold-leaf highlights on vessels and ladle, homa fire central, offerings arranged symmetrically, ornate borders, devotional ritual still-life composition.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, fine linework, instructional layout showing labeled dravyas around the fire altar, priest performing āhuti with ghee, subtle shading, clean composition.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed textiles and utensils, close-up of ritual paraphernalia, precise rendering of grains and seeds, priest and assistant counting offerings, architectural interior of a yajña-śālā."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shuddha Saveri","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ājyāpāmārgasamidho = ājya-apāmārga-samidh-aḥ; hy = hi; gavyamājyañca = gavyam ājyaṃ ca; sahasrāṣṭakasaṃkhyayā = sahasra-aṣṭaka-saṃkhyayā.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 305 (Pūjā-vidhi: homa-dravya, japa-saṅkhyā sections)
FAQs
It specifies standard homa offerings—ghee, apāmārga fuel, akṣata, sesame, mustard, and pāyasa—and prescribes the ritual count of 1008 (sahasrāṣṭaka) for oblations/recitations.
By cataloging precise ritual substances (dravya) and numerical prescriptions (saṃkhyā), it functions like a practical manual of worship—one of the Agni Purana’s many technical domains alongside polity, medicine, and poetics.
Using sanctified offerings with the auspicious count 1008 is presented as a merit-generating, purificatory discipline that strengthens the efficacy (siddhi) of the rite and supports spiritual purification through regulated sacrifice.