Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 6
Chapter 66: साधारणप्रतिष्ठाविधानम्
The Procedure for General Consecration
ब्रह्मकूर्चं समाहृत्य श्रपेद् यवमयं चरुं क्षीरेण कपिलायास्तु तद्विष्णोरिति साधकः
brahmakūrcaṃ samāhṛtya śraped yavamayaṃ caruṃ kṣīreṇa kapilāyāstu tadviṣṇoriti sādhakaḥ
Ayant rassemblé le sacré brahma-kūrca, le pratiquant doit cuire un caru (bouillie d’offrande) fait d’orge, avec le lait d’une vache kapilā (fauve), tout en récitant le mantra « tad viṣṇoḥ ».
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purāṇa narrative frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Prāyaścitta/ritual offering: prepare brahma-kūrca, cook barley caru in kapilā cow’s milk, and recite the ‘tad viṣṇoḥ’ mantra during the oblation for purification and rite-completion.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Prāyaścitta caru: yava-caru in kapilā-kṣīra with ‘tad viṣṇoḥ’ mantra","lookup_keywords":["brahma-kūrca","yava-caru","kapilā-kṣīra","tad viṣṇoḥ","prāyaścitta"],"quick_summary":"For expiation/ritual purification, gather brahma-kūrca, cook a barley oblation (caru) in the milk of a tawny cow, and perform the act while chanting ‘tad viṣṇoḥ’."}
Dosha: Tridosha
Concept: Prāyaścitta integrates right substance (dravya), right act (karma), and right sound (mantra) to restore ritual and ethical purity.
Application: When undertaking expiation, follow authorized ingredients and mantra-recitation precisely; treat cooking/offerings as a disciplined sacrament, not mere food preparation.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Prāyaścitta / Ritual Expiations and Offerings)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sādhaka prepares an offering: brahma-kūrca gathered, a pot on fire with barley caru simmering in cow’s milk, while he chants ‘tad viṣṇoḥ’ before the altar.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, homa-like kitchen-altar scene, pot over flame, barley and milk vessels, sādhaka chanting with prayer beads, subtle Viṣṇu symbol in background","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, altar with gold highlights, pot of caru with stylized steam, kapilā cow depicted nearby, sādhaka chanting ‘tad viṣṇoḥ’, rich gold ornamentation","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, stepwise depiction of gathering brahma-kūrca and cooking yava-caru in milk, clear utensils and fire-pit, calm instructional composition","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed domestic-ritual setting with copper pots and fire, practitioner reciting mantra, attendants holding barley and milk, fine architectural backdrop"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Madhyamavati","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: tadviṣṇoriti → tat + viṣṇoḥ + iti; kapilāyāstu → kapilāyāḥ + tu.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 66.4 (prāyaścitta within ritual regulations); Agni Purana 66.3 (mantra construction/phonetic correctness)
FAQs
It prescribes a specific homa-style preparation: collect a consecrated brahma-kūrca (ritual grass bundle), cook a barley-based caru with kapilā cow’s milk, and recite the Viṣṇu-mantra phrase “tad viṣṇoḥ” during the act.
It exemplifies the Agni Purāṇa’s practical ritual manual aspect—giving precise materials (barley, cow’s milk, kūrca), method (cooking the caru), and mantra-citation—alongside its broader coverage of theology, dharma, and applied rites.
By combining purified ritual implements, a sattvic offering (barley cooked in milk), and Viṣṇu-mantra recitation, the act functions as a purificatory/expiatory rite intended to remove ritual impurity and generate religious merit (puṇya).