Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 10
Agnisthāpana-vidhi (Procedure for Establishing the Sacred Fire) and Protective Īśāna-kalpa Homa Sequences
रक्षितं हेतिमन्त्रेण कवचेनावगुण्ठितं पूजितन्त्रिः परिभ्राम्य कुण्डस्योर्ध्वं प्रदक्षिणं
rakṣitaṃ hetimantreṇa kavacenāvaguṇṭhitaṃ pūjitantriḥ paribhrāmya kuṇḍasyordhvaṃ pradakṣiṇaṃ
L’ayant protégé par le Heti-mantra et recouvert du kavaca (cuirasse protectrice rituelle), puis l’ayant dûment honoré, on doit circumambuler le foyer/kuṇḍa trois fois en le gardant à sa droite—accomplissant la pradakṣiṇā dans le sens horaire le long du rebord supérieur du kuṇḍa.
Lord Agni (in dialogue with Sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa narrative frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Homa-kunda protection and correct pradakshina procedure during fire-rituals to maintain ritual purity and safety.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Kunda-raksha and Trivara Pradakshina in Homa","lookup_keywords":["heti-mantra","kavaca","kunda","pradakshina","homa-vidhi"],"quick_summary":"Protect the ritual space with Heti-mantra and kavaca, then perform three clockwise circumambulations keeping the kunda to the right, moving along its upper rim/edge."}
Concept: Ritual protection (raksha) and rightward circumambulation as alignment with auspicious cosmic order.
Application: Use kavaca and prescribed movement-patterns to stabilize attention and maintain sanctity around fire.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Homa-prayoga (Ritual Procedures and Fire-altar Circumambulation)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A consecrated fire-pit (kunda) with the practitioner performing three clockwise circumambulations, right shoulder toward the fire, after invoking a protective kavaca.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, homa-kunda with bright flames, priest in white dhoti performing pradakshina clockwise, subtle mantra-yantra aura as kavaca, warm ochres and reds, sacred geometry border","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central kunda with stylized flames, priest mid-pradakshina, gold-leaf highlights on the kunda rim and ritual vessels, ornate arch framing the homa scene","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean linework showing step-by-step pradakshina path around kunda, labeled ritual implements (sruk, sruva), soft pastel background, instructional composition","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtyard homa scene with detailed textiles and vessels, practitioner circling the kunda to the right, fine architectural detailing, delicate flame rendering"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: kavacenāvaguṇṭhitam = kavacena + avaguṇṭhitam; kuṇḍasyordhvam = kuṇḍasya + ūrdhvam; pūjitantriḥ read as pūjitaḥ + triḥ (contextual sandhi/orthography).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 75 (Puja-vidhi/Homa-prayoga sections on raksha, nyasa, and kunda-krama)
FAQs
It prescribes a precise homa-sequence: protect the rite with a weapon/protection mantra (heti-mantra), ritually ‘cover’ it with a kavaca, perform worship, and then execute three clockwise circumambulations of the fire-pit (kuṇḍa) as pradakṣiṇā.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purāṇa functions as a practical ritual handbook: it records operational details—mantra-based protection (kavaca), procedural counts (three circumambulations), and spatial rules (keeping the kuṇḍa to the right)—showing its compendium-like coverage of applied religious practice.
Mantric protection and clockwise pradakṣiṇā formalize purity, safeguard the rite from obstacles (vighna), and align the performer with auspicious order (dakṣiṇā-varta), thereby strengthening the merit (puṇya) and efficacy (siddhi) of the homa.