Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 3
Chapter 306 — त्रैलोक्यमोहनमन्त्राः
Mantras for Enchanting the Three Worlds
पृथग्दधि घृतं क्षीरं चरुं साज्यं पयः शृतं द्वादशाहुतिमूलेन सहस्रञ्चाक्षतांस्तिलान्
pṛthagdadhi ghṛtaṃ kṣīraṃ caruṃ sājyaṃ payaḥ śṛtaṃ dvādaśāhutimūlena sahasrañcākṣatāṃstilān
Qu’on offre séparément : le caillé (dadhi), le ghee, le lait, le caru (oblations de riz) et le lait cuit mêlé de ghee; puis, en prenant pour unité l’ensemble fondamental de douze oblations, qu’on offre mille (oblations) de riz entier (akṣata) et de graines de sésame.
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the Agni Purana’s usual dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Specification of homa-dravyas and offering regimen: dairy items and caru offered separately; then large-count offerings of akṣata and tila using a 12-āhuti unit.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Homa-dravya list and āhuti counting unit (dvādaśāhuti-mūla)","lookup_keywords":["dadhि ghṛta kṣīra homa","caru āhuti","sājya payaḥ-śṛta","akṣata tila sahasra","dvādaśāhuti-mūla"],"quick_summary":"Gives a practical inventory of oblation substances and a counting method: offer specified dairy/caru items separately, then perform extensive offerings of rice grains and sesame in units based on twelve oblations."}
Concept: Ritual efficacy is tied to correct dravya-bheda (separate offerings) and saṅkhyā-krama (structured counts/units).
Application: Plan homa logistics: procure dravyas, separate them by offering phase, and track counts using the 12-āhuti unit to reach the stated totals.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Agneya-kalpa / Homa-vidhi)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A homa altar with separate bowls of curd, ghee, milk, caru, and cooked milk with ghee; the priest offers them one by one, then pours streams of akṣata and sesame into the fire while counting in twelve-āhuti cycles.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: square kuṇḍa with stylized flames; neatly arranged vessels labeled dadhi/ghṛta/kṣīra/caru; flowing akṣata and tila as patterned dots entering fire; warm earthy palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: ornate homa scene with gold-highlighted vessels and flames; akṣata and tila rendered as sparkling grains; rich textiles and ritual ladles with gold work.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: technical instructional painting showing each dravya vessel and the sequence arrows; a counting board indicating dvādaśāhuti units leading to sahasra offerings of akṣata and tila.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: detailed still-life of dairy vessels and grains beside a fire altar; attendants measure ingredients; the priest offers with a ladle; fine border and calligraphy noting ‘dvādaśāhuti-mūla’."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पृथग् + दधि → पृथग्दधि; सहस्रम् + च → सहस्रञ्च; अक्षतान् + तिलान् → अक्षतांस्तिलान् (न् + त → ंस्).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 306.2 (homa requirement after japa/abhiṣeka); Agni Purana 305 (mantra context for which homa is performed)
FAQs
It prescribes specific homa-dravyas (curd, ghee, milk, caru, cooked milk with ghee) and a quantified offering scheme, using a ‘twelve-oblations’ unit and extending it to a thousand offerings of akṣata (unbroken rice) and tila (sesame).
By recording precise ritual materials and counting conventions (measurement by a fixed āhuti-set), it functions like a technical manual for fire-ritual performance—one of the many practical disciplines (kalpa/pujā-vidhi) cataloged across the Agni Purana.
Such carefully measured āhutis are traditionally held to purify the performer and stabilize the rite’s efficacy—linking correct substance, sequence, and number to the intended merit (puṇya) and ritual completion (siddhi).