Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 10
Chapter 66: साधारणप्रतिष्ठाविधानम्
The Procedure for General Consecration
तस्मै सोमञ्च राजानं इन्द्राद्यैर् होममाचरेत् अङ्गानि कल्पयेदिति ख, ङ, चिह्नितपुस्तकद्वयपाठः प्रणवं गतिमिति ख, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः एवं हुत्वा चरोर्भागान् दद्याद्दिग्बलिमादरात्
tasmai somañca rājānaṃ indrādyair homamācaret aṅgāni kalpayediti kha, ṅa, cihnitapustakadvayapāṭhaḥ praṇavaṃ gatimiti kha, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ evaṃ hutvā carorbhāgān dadyāddigbalimādarāt
Pour ce rite, on doit accomplir le homa pour le Roi Soma, avec Indra et les autres dieux. Après avoir ainsi offert les oblations, on doit ensuite, avec soin, présenter les parts du caru (gâteau/riz sacrificiel) comme bali aux directions (dig-bali).
Lord Agni (in the Agni Purana’s instructional discourse, traditionally to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Post-homa distribution: offering to Soma/Indra group, then allocating caru portions as directional bali (dig-bali) to harmonize space and guardians.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Soma-Indrādi Homa followed by Caru Dig-bali","lookup_keywords":["soma rājā","indrādi","caru-bhāga","dig-bali","bali-vidhi"],"quick_summary":"After completing specified oblations to Soma with Indra and other deities, distribute portions of the cooked offering (caru) as directional bali—ritually sealing and protecting the quarters."}
Concept: Ritual completeness (pūrṇatā): offerings are not only to the central fire but also to the surrounding cosmic/guardian network via dig-bali.
Application: In domestic/temple rites, conclude with bali to the quarters to integrate the rite with the environment and community space (thresholds, corners, directions).
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Homa and Bali-vidhi / ritual offerings)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"After homa, the priest portions out caru into small leaf-bowls and places them carefully in the eight directions around the altar, invoking Soma and Indra-led deities.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, circular arrangement of eight directional points around a central homa-kunda, priest placing small offerings, subtle dikpāla symbols at each quarter, warm lamp-lit ambience.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central fire altar with gold accents, priest distributing caru portions to eight ornate plates around, decorative directional guardians hinted in corners, rich textile patterns.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional top-down composition: central kunda, eight marked directions, priest placing caru-bali; clean lines and labeled quarters for clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtyard scene with precise geometry, small bowls placed at cardinal/intercardinal points, attendants holding vessels, delicate architectural framing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shree","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: somaṃ + ca → somañca; homam + ācaret → homamācaret; kalpayet + iti → kalpayediti; dadyāt + digbalim → dadyāddigbalim (t/d assimilation). Editorial apparatus words treated as separate padas.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 66 (bali-vidhi continuation); Agni Purana bali and bhūta-yajña related passages (other ritual chapters)
FAQs
It teaches the sequence of a homa: offer oblations to Soma (with Indra and other deities) and then distribute caru portions as digbali—offerings made to the directions/guardians.
It preserves a practical ritual micro-protocol (homa + post-homa digbali using caru), showing the Purana functioning as a handbook of applied liturgy alongside its broader theological and cultural topics.
Completing digbali after homa is a formal act of ritual completeness and respect to cosmic order (directions and deities), traditionally understood to secure protection, remove obstacles, and stabilize the merit of the sacrifice.