Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 12
Chapter 52: देवीप्रतिमालक्षणं (Devī-pratimā-lakṣaṇa) — Characteristics of Goddess Images
अविलोमाग्निपर्यन्तं दीर्घाष्टकैकभेदितं तत्षडङ्गानि जात्यन्तैर् अन्वितं च क्रमाद् यजेत्
avilomāgniparyantaṃ dīrghāṣṭakaikabheditaṃ tatṣaḍaṅgāni jātyantair anvitaṃ ca kramād yajet
On doit accomplir le culte/l’oblation selon l’ordre requis, en progressant par la séquence inversée (aviloma) jusqu’au Feu (Agni), en divisant le mantra par voyelles longues et par unités octuples (aṣṭaka), puis en appliquant successivement ses six membres (ṣaḍ-aṅga) avec les terminaisons de classe prescrites (jāty-anta).
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Operational rule for homa/pūjā: aviloma (reverse) progression to Agni, mantra segmentation by dīrgha and aṣṭaka units, and application of ṣaḍaṅga with jāti-endings for correct ritual recitation.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Aviloma-krama Homa with Mantra-Aṣṭaka Division and Ṣaḍaṅga Application","lookup_keywords":["aviloma","homa","ṣaḍaṅga","aṣṭaka","jāty-anta"],"quick_summary":"Perform offerings in reverse order up to Agni, reciting the mantra in regulated segments (long vowels and eightfold units) and attaching the six-limbed auxiliaries with proper phonetic/class endings. This standardizes pronunciation, nyāsa, and offering order."}
Concept: Mantra-śāstra correctness: krama (sequence), pāṭha-vibhāga (segmentation), and ṣaḍaṅga-yoga as enabling conditions for ritual efficacy.
Application: In homa manuals: define the recitation protocol (how to break and append limbs) to avoid svara/akṣara errors and maintain consistent offering cadence.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Agni-hotra & Vedic-Tantric Homa Procedures)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: śānta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritualist performs homa before a fire altar, reciting segmented mantra with visible sequence markers, applying ṣaḍaṅga-nyāsa and proceeding aviloma toward Agni.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, homa-kuṇḍa with stylized flames, priest in traditional attire performing nyāsa gestures (touching head/heart/shoulders), mantra syllables depicted as seed letters around the fire, orderly aviloma progression shown as circular arrows","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central blazing Agni in the kuṇḍa with gold highlights, priest offering āhuti with ladle, surrounding border of bīja-akṣaras and six-limb markers, symmetrical ritual implements","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional clarity: labeled six nyāsa points implied, mantra broken into neat segments around the figure, clean altar geometry, calm palette","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed ritual paraphernalia (sruva, ājyapātra, samidh), fire rendered delicately, scribe-like depiction of mantra segments on a scroll near the priest, architectural courtyard setting"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तत्षडङ्गानि → तत् + षडङ्गानि; जात्यन्तैर् → जात्यन्तैः (विसर्ग-लोप/रेफ्-आदेशः पदान्ते).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 52 (Agnihotra/homa paddhati context)
FAQs
It gives a procedural rule for homa/arcana: perform offerings in a specified sequence (including reverse-order progression up to Agni), while segmenting the mantra for correct recitation and applying mantra-ṣaḍaṅga (six-limbed nyāsa) alongside technical phonetic/grammatical terminations (jāty-antas).
Beyond devotion, it preserves specialized liturgical technique—mantra segmentation, metrical/phonetic handling, and ṣaḍaṅga-nyāsa—showing the Purāṇa’s coverage of precise ritual science alongside theology.
Correct sequencing and ṣaḍaṅga application are taught as safeguards for mantra efficacy; performing the rite in proper order is traditionally held to increase purification (śuddhi) and the intended merit (puṇya) of the fire-offering.