Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 25
Agnisthāpana-vidhi (Procedure for Establishing the Sacred Fire) and Protective Īśāna-kalpa Homa Sequences
शैवीमाज्ञाभिमान्तेषां श्रावयेत्तदनन्तरं गृहीत्वा स्रुक्स्रुवावूर्ध्ववदनाधोमुखैः क्रमात्
śaivīmājñābhimānteṣāṃ śrāvayettadanantaraṃ gṛhītvā sruksruvāvūrdhvavadanādhomukhaiḥ kramāt
Ensuite, il doit faire entendre à ceux qui se tiennent autour de l’autel l’injonction śaiva (formule de commandement) ; puis, prenant les deux louches—le sruk et le sruva—il doit les utiliser selon l’ordre prescrit, l’une la bouche tournée vers le haut et l’autre la bouche tournée vers le bas.
Lord Agni (instructing Sage Vasiṣṭha in ritual procedure)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Guides the officiant in transmitting the Śaiva command-formula to assistants and in correctly handling sruk/sruva ladles during homa so offerings and sanctification actions proceed without procedural fault.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Śaiva Ājñā-śrāvaṇa and Sru(k)/Sruva Handling in Homa","lookup_keywords":["śaivī ājñā","śrāvaṇa","sruk","sruva","homa prayoga"],"quick_summary":"Announce the Śaiva injunction to the ritual circle, then use sruk and sruva in fixed order, distinguishing them by upward- and downward-facing mouths to maintain correct offering flow and ritual polarity."}
Concept: Ritual efficacy depends on śruti-like authorization (ājñā) and correct instrumentality (karaṇa-śuddhi) in action.
Application: Before offerings, formally instruct participants and handle implements exactly as prescribed to avoid prayoga-doṣa (procedural defect).
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Shaiva/Agni ritual procedure)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A homa altar with assistants standing around; the officiant proclaims a Śaiva command and lifts two ladles—one held mouth-up, the other mouth-down—ready for ordered offerings.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, warm ochres and deep greens, a Śaiva homa scene with a square fire-altar, priest in white, assistants around, two ladles clearly shown with opposite orientations, sacred calm, flat iconic composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf highlights on the fire-altar and ritual vessels, priest holding sruk and sruva with distinct mouth directions, floral borders, rich reds and greens, devotional ritual ambience","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, fine linework and soft shading, instructional depiction of sruk vs sruva orientation, labeled implements, neat altar layout, emphasis on procedural clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed courtyard yajña scene, attendants in profile, priest demonstrating two ladles with opposite mouth orientation, intricate textiles, delicate flames, precise realism"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: śaivīmājñābhimānteṣām → śaivīm + ājñā + abhimānteṣām; tadanantaram → tad + anantaram; sruksruvāvūrdhva… → sruk + sruvau + ūrdhva-vadana-adhomukhaiḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Puja-vidhi sections on homa-vidhi and upacāra-krama (same khanda); Agni Purana mantra-nyāsa and kara-nyāsa passages adjacent to 75.26–75.29
FAQs
It teaches a precise homa protocol: publicly reciting the Śaiva injunction to the officiants/assistants and then correctly handling the sruk and sruva ladles in an ordered sequence with specified orientations.
It preserves operational, priestly “how-to” details—recitation procedure and the technical use of ritual implements—showing the text’s coverage beyond mythology into exact liturgical mechanics.
Correct audible injunctions and properly ordered offerings are treated as essential for ritual validity (śuddhi) and for ensuring the intended merit and efficacy of the Śaiva fire rite.