Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 43
Chapter 72 — स्नानविशेषादिकथनम्
Special Rules of Bathing, Mantra-Purification, and Sandhyā
प्रचेतसे मनुष्यांश् च सनकाय वषट् तथा हां सनन्दाय वषट् सनातनाय वै वषट्
pracetase manuṣyāṃś ca sanakāya vaṣaṭ tathā hāṃ sanandāya vaṣaṭ sanātanāya vai vaṣaṭ
« À Pracetas et à l’humanité — vaṣaṭ. De même, à Sanaka — vaṣaṭ ; “hāṃ” à Sanandana — vaṣaṭ ; et, en vérité, à Sanātana — vaṣaṭ. »
Lord Agni (narrating ritual procedure to Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s instructional frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Homa oblation calls (vaṣaṭ) directed to Pracetas, mankind, and the Kumāra sages (Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanātana), integrating cosmic/ancestral recipients into the offering sequence.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Vaṣaṭ-offerings to Pracetas, Manuṣya, and Kumāras (Sanaka–Sanandana–Sanātana) with ‘hāṃ’ insertion","lookup_keywords":["vaṣaṭ","Pracetas","Sanaka","Sanandana","Sanātana"],"quick_summary":"Use vaṣaṭ to consign offerings to specified recipients; this verse gives a recipient-list including Pracetas, humanity, and the Kumāras, with ‘hāṃ’ as an oblation-formula element for Sanandana."}
Concept: Yajña as a connective act: offerings can be intentionally addressed to cosmic beings, sages, and even ‘mankind’ as a collective recipient, widening the ritual’s ethical horizon.
Application: During homa, mentally visualize each recipient while uttering vaṣaṭ to stabilize saṅkalpa and ensure correct ‘addressing’ (uddeśa) of the offering.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Mantra-prayoga (Homa and oblation formulae)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A homa scene where the priest offers ghee while intoning vaṣaṭ; ethereal figures appear in the smoke: Pracetas as ancient luminous beings, a symbolic crowd representing mankind, and youthful ascetic Kumāras (Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanātana) with serene faces.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, homa fire central, smoke forming three zones: Pracetas as radiant sages, mankind as stylized silhouettes, Kumāras as youthful ascetics with jaṭā and halos, bold outlines and warm palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-embossed flames, Kumāras with bright gold halos, Pracetas in a luminous cloud, decorative gold script ‘vaṣaṭ’ motif, rich jewel tones","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional homa posture with ladle and fire, labeled recipients in small vignettes above the flame (Pracetas, Manuṣya, Sanaka/Sanandana/Sanātana), clean composition","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, indoor yajña setting, delicate smoke-forms revealing recipients, fine detailing of youthful sages, calligraphic ‘vaṣaṭ’ in border panels"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: manuṣyāṃś ca = manuṣyān + ca (n → ṃś before c, anusvāra/śchutva orthography).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 72 (homa recipient lists; Kumāra-related invocations)
FAQs
It gives a sequence of homa-invocations: specific recipients (Pracetas, mankind, and the Kumāra sages) are offered oblations with the liturgical exclamation “vaṣaṭ,” including the use of the syllable “hāṃ” as a mantra element before offering to Sanandana.
Beyond mythology, the Agni Purāṇa preserves practical ritual technology—stepwise mantra lists and offering calls (vaṣaṭ)—functioning like a handbook for priests and householders performing Vedic-Paurāṇic fire rites.
By directing oblations to revered sages and to “mankind,” the rite expands merit (puṇya) through honoring seers and cultivating universal welfare intentions, while the vaṣaṭ-offering is treated as a purifying, consecratory act within the fire ritual.