Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 14
Chapter 43 — प्रासाददेवतास्थापनम्
Installation of Deities in a Temple
शिलायां शुक्लरेखाग्र्या कृष्णाग्र्या सिंहहोमतः कांस्यघण्टानिनादा स्यात् पुंलिङ्गा विस्फुलिङ्गिका
śilāyāṃ śuklarekhāgryā kṛṣṇāgryā siṃhahomataḥ kāṃsyaghaṇṭāninādā syāt puṃliṅgā visphuliṅgikā
Sur la pierre (pierre d’autel), lorsque la strie dominante est blanche et que son extrémité est noire—et que, durant le siṃha-homa (offrande du lion), retentit un son résonnant tel une cloche de bronze—alors la « visphuliṅgikā » (étincelle) doit être comprise comme de genre masculin (puṃliṅga).
Lord Agni (Agni Purana’s primary narrator) to the sage Vasiṣṭha (traditional frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Jyotisha","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Reading ritual/physical omens (rekhā, dhvani, visphuliṅga) to decide auspiciousness and classify signs during homa and related operations.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Visphuliṅgikā-nimitta: Puṃliṅga-lakṣaṇa (stone-streak & bell-like sound)","lookup_keywords":["śakuna-śāstra","nimitta","visphuliṅgikā","siṃha-homa","kāṃsya-ghaṇṭā-nināda"],"quick_summary":"If the stone shows a white leading streak with a black tip and a bronze-bell-like resonance is heard during siṃha-homa, the omen-sign ‘visphuliṅgikā’ is classified as masculine, guiding subsequent ritual decisions."}
Concept: Nimitta-jñāna: interpreting sensory signs (rūpa/rekhā/śabda) as actionable ritual knowledge.
Application: Use observed marks and sounds as decision-criteria for proceeding, postponing, or selecting ritual options.
Khanda Section: Śakuna-śāstra / Nimitta-śāstra (Omens and prognostics)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual stone surface showing a prominent white streak ending in a black tip; nearby a homa fire for siṃha-homa with tiny sparks rising, while a bell-like bronze resonance is suggested through attendants’ attentive posture.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat earthy palette, homa-kuṇḍa with flames, priest observing a stone slab with white-and-black streak, subtle sparks, stylized sound-waves indicating kāṃsya-ghaṇṭā-nināda, sacred ritual ambience.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, rich reds and greens, gold-leaf highlights on homa fire and ritual vessels, stone slab with clear white streak and black tip, priest and assistants listening to bell-like resonance, ornate borders.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, delicate linework, instructional clarity: close view of stone streak pattern and homa setup labeled visually, priest noting the omen ‘puṃliṅga visphuliṅgikā’, calm ritual interior.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, fine detailing of a yajña scene, stone slab in foreground with contrasting streak, sparks above fire, courtly attendants and priest reacting to a bell-like sound, architectural pavilion backdrop."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: śuklarekhāgryā = śukla-rekhā-agryā; kṛṣṇāgryā = kṛṣṇa-agryā; siṃhahomataḥ = siṃha-homa-taḥ; kāṃsyaghaṇṭāninādā = kāṃsya-ghaṇṭā-ninādā.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 43 (Śakuna/Nimitta context); Agni Purana sections on homa-vidhi and mantra-prokṣaṇa (related ritual chapters)
FAQs
It gives a nimitta (omen-diagnostic) for interpreting the gender-classification of a ritual ‘spark’ (visphuliṅgikā) based on visible markings (white streak, black tip) and an auditory sign (bronze-bell-like resonance) observed during a specific homa (siṃha-homa).
Beyond theology, it preserves applied ritual diagnostics—how to read subtle visual and sound phenomena in a fire rite as categorized signs—showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of specialized omen-science (nimitta/śakuna) alongside other technical disciplines.
In the ritual worldview, correctly reading such signs is part of ensuring the rite is properly aligned and efficacious; it supports careful performance (śuddhi and saṃpatti) by treating observable phenomena as indicators of ritual correctness and outcome.