Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 11
Chapter 66: साधारणप्रतिष्ठाविधानम्
The Procedure for General Consecration
समिधो ऽष्टशतं हुत्वा पालाशांश्चाज्यहोमकं कुर्यात् पुरुषसूक्तेन इरावती तिलाष्टकं
samidho 'ṣṭaśataṃ hutvā pālāśāṃścājyahomakaṃ kuryāt puruṣasūktena irāvatī tilāṣṭakaṃ
Après avoir offert huit cents baguettes de combustible (samidh) dans le feu, on doit aussi accomplir un ājya-homa, une oblation de ghee, avec du bois de palāśa, en récitant le Puruṣa-sūkta ; puis viennent l’Irāvatī (mantra/rite) et le tila-aṣṭaka, l’offrande octuple de sésame.
Lord Agni (in instruction to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","practical_application":"Quantified homa regimen: 800 samidh offerings, palāśa-wood ghee oblations, and specific mantra sets (Puruṣa-sūkta, Irāvatī, tila-aṣṭaka) for ritual efficacy and completeness.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Samidh-saṅkhyā (800), Palāśa Ājya-homa, Puruṣa-sūkta and Tila-aṣṭaka","lookup_keywords":["samidh aṣṭaśata","palāśa","ājya-homa","puruṣa-sūkta","tila-aṣṭaka"],"quick_summary":"The verse prescribes a counted offering of fuel-sticks and ghee with specified woods and mantras—showing how number, material, and mantra jointly define a homa protocol."}
Concept: Discipline through measure (saṅkhyā-niyama) and sacred materiality (palāśa, tila) joined to Vedic mantra (Puruṣa-sūkta) to align the sacrificer with cosmic Person (Puruṣa).
Application: For intensive rites, maintain exact counts and prescribed materials; treat mantra, substance, and number as a single integrated method.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Homa & Vedic-Mantra Prayoga)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A large homa with heaps of samidh; the priest repeatedly offers sticks and ghee, with palāśa wood stacked nearby; a manuscript of the Puruṣa-sūkta is open; sesame offerings arranged in eight portions.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, dynamic flame and repeated offering rhythm, palāśa leaves/wood stylized, eight sesame portions shown as small dark-gold heaps, sacred text band indicating Puruṣa-sūkta, temple ambience.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, opulent homa scene with gold foil flames and halos, priest with ladle, palāśa bundle highlighted, eight sesame bowls symmetrically placed, embossed ornaments and rich colors.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, technical clarity: count-marked bundle of 800 sticks, labeled palāśa, ghee pot, open Puruṣa-sūkta folio, eight sesame portions; clean instructional composition.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, meticulous depiction of stacked fuel sticks, ghee ladle, open manuscript, attendants counting offerings, sesame bowls in an orderly row, refined architectural setting."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Darbari Kanada","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: samidhaḥ + aṣṭaśatam → samidho 'ṣṭaśatam (visarga → o + avagraha); pālāśān + ca + ājyahomakam → pālāśāṃścājyahomakaṃ (n→ṃ before ś; ca+ājya→cājya).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 66 (extended homa prescriptions); Agni Purana mantra and sūkta usage in rites (related chapters on stotra/mantra and pūjā)
FAQs
It prescribes a specific homa sequence: 800 samidh offerings, followed by palāśa-based ājya (ghee) oblations, performed with the Puruṣa-sūkta, and additionally the Irāvatī rite/mantra and an eightfold sesame (tila-aṣṭaka) offering.
It functions like a procedural ritual manual, cataloging exact counts, materials (samidh, palāśa, ghee, sesame), and mantra-application (Puruṣa-sūkta), illustrating how the Agni Purana compiles practical liturgical technology alongside its broader religious and cultural subjects.
Such precisely defined homa offerings are traditionally understood to generate puṇya, purify impurities through Agni, and align the sacrificer with cosmic order via the Puruṣa-sūkta (a hymn of universal integration and consecration).