Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 21
Agnisthāpana-vidhi (Procedure for Establishing the Sacred Fire) and Protective Īśāna-kalpa Homa Sequences
ततोन्तस्थितदेवस्य इति ख, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः शरात्मना इति ख, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः गन्धाद्यैर् इति ख, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः कुण्डन्तु इति ख, ङ, चिह्नितपुस्तकद्वयपाठः आस्थाप्य स्थापयेत्तेषु हृदा परिधिविस्तरं वक्ताणामस्त्रमन्त्रेण ततो नालापन्नुत्तये
tatontasthitadevasya iti kha, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ śarātmanā iti kha, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ gandhādyair iti kha, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ kuṇḍantu iti kha, ṅa, cihnitapustakadvayapāṭhaḥ āsthāpya sthāpayetteṣu hṛdā paridhivistaraṃ vaktāṇāmastramantreṇa tato nālāpannuttaye
Ensuite, après avoir installé (les instruments rituels/les divinités) à leurs places respectives, il doit établir—par le mantra Hṛdā—l’étendue de l’enceinte délimitante (paridhi). Puis, au moyen de l’Astra-mantra, il accomplira la protection et l’éloignement des dangers pour les officiants (et pour le rite), afin qu’aucun empêchement ni accident ne survienne.
Lord Agni (teaching the ritual procedure to the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional dialogue style)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Paridhi (protective boundary) establishment and rakṣā-kriyā for officiants using Hṛdā-mantra and Astra-mantra to prevent vighna during homa.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Paridhi-vistāra by Hṛdā and Rakṣā by Astra-mantra","lookup_keywords":["paridhi","hṛdā-mantra","astra-mantra","rakṣā","vighna-nivāraṇa"],"quick_summary":"After installing the ritual setup, expand/define the enclosing boundary with the Hṛdā-mantra and then apply Astra-mantra protection to avert obstacles and mishaps for the rite and its performers."}
Concept: Ritual success depends on proper sthāpana (installation), maryādā (boundary), and rakṣā (protective sealing) through mantra.
Application: Sequence matters: first stabilize the rite’s ‘body’ (paridhi via Hṛdā), then apply ‘weapon’ protection (Astra) to prevent vighna.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Homa-prayoga (Fire-ritual procedure and altar operations)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A homa altar with a clearly marked circular/rectangular paridhi; the priest traces/establishes the boundary while reciting Hṛdā-mantra, then performs Astra-mantra warding around the officiants.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, priest drawing luminous boundary around homa-kunda, assistants seated within, Astra-mantra gestures radiating outward, stylized flames and protective aura encircling the space","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style with gold outlining the paridhi ring, priest holding ladle and performing protective mudrā, Astra energy depicted as golden arcs around the officiants","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, diagrammatic clarity of paridhi expansion, priest’s hand tracing perimeter, labeled positions, calm instructional scene with homa implements","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, top-down angled view of altar and boundary, priest circumambulating to seal the perimeter, attendants inside the protected zone, fine detailing of ritual vessels"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shree","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: tatontasthitadevasya → ततः + अन्तःस्थितदेवस्य. श्लोके बहवः पाठान्तर-सूचनाः (इति ख/ङ/चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः) इत्यादयः सम्पादकीय-टिप्पण्यः; पदविश्लेषणे मुख्यवाक्यांशः ‘आस्थाप्य स्थापयेत्…’ इति गृहीतः. ‘नालापन्नुत्तये’ पाठः दूषित/अस्पष्टः।
Related Themes: Agni Purana 75 (Homa-prayoga: paridhi, rakṣā, vighna-śānti)
FAQs
It teaches the operational sequence in homa: establish the altar’s protective boundary (paridhi) using the Hṛdā-mantra, then apply the Astra-mantra as a protective/obstacle-removing measure for the officiants and the rite.
It preserves a manual-like, step-by-step ritual technology—mantra application, boundary formation, and protective rites—showing the Agni Purana’s coverage beyond myth into practical liturgy and procedural knowledge.
Creating the paridhi and invoking the Astra-mantra is meant to safeguard sanctity, prevent ritual faults (doṣa) and obstacles (vighna), and thereby ensure the offering yields its intended religious merit (puṇya) without interruption.