Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 35
Agnisthāpana-vidhi (Procedure for Establishing the Sacred Fire) and Protective Īśāna-kalpa Homa Sequences
अस्त्रमन्त्रेण निर्दग्धं वह्नौ दर्भं पुनः क्षिपेत् क्षिप्त्वा घृते कृतग्रन्थिकुशं प्रादेशसम्मितं
astramantreṇa nirdagdhaṃ vahnau darbhaṃ punaḥ kṣipet kṣiptvā ghṛte kṛtagranthikuśaṃ prādeśasammitaṃ
Après l’avoir brûlé au moyen de l’Astra-mantra, on doit jeter de nouveau l’herbe darbha dans le feu. L’ayant jetée, on place dans le ghṛta (ghee) un brin de kuśa noué, mesuré à l’empan de la main.
Lord Agni (Agni Purana’s primary narrator) instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Homa-prayoga: preparing and re-offering darbha/kuśa with astra-mantra purification and measuring ritual implements correctly.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Astra-mantra śodhana of darbha and knotted kuśa (prādeśa-māna)","lookup_keywords":["astra-mantra","darbha","kuśa-granthi","prādeśa-māna","homa-vidhi"],"quick_summary":"Purify darbha by ‘burning’ it with the Astra-mantra and re-cast it into the fire; then prepare a knotted kuśa of prādeśa length and place it in ghee as part of havis-saṃskāra."}
Concept: Śuddhi (ritual purification) and māna (correct measure) as prerequisites for mantra-karman efficacy.
Application: Maintain strict cleanliness and standardized measures in homa materials to avoid doṣa in rite.
Khanda Section: Agneya-vidya / Homa-vidhi (Vedic fire ritual procedure and mantra-application)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A homa-kuṇḍa blazing; the officiant touches darbha with mantra-intent (astra-śodhana), re-casts it into fire, and prepares a prādeśa-length knotted kuśa dipped in ghee beside the ladle and ājya vessel.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, warm ochres and reds, a Vedic priest by a square homa-kunda, darbha bundle in hand, flames stylized, ritual vessels (ājya-pātra, sruva), knotted kuśa shown clearly, serene sacred ambience.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central homa-kunda with gold-leaf flames, priest in traditional attire holding darbha, ornate ājya vessel and sruva highlighted with gold work, knotted kuśa (granthi) emphasized, rich temple interior.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean instructional composition: labeled-looking ritual objects (homa-kunda, sruva, ājya-pātra, darbha, prādeśa-length kuśa with knot), soft colors, precise hand gestures for casting into fire.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed courtly atelier depiction of a yajña scene: small square fire altar, priest performing darbha re-offering, close-up of knotted kuśa dipped in ghee, fine textiles, delicate flames, meticulous object detail."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अस्त्रमन्त्रेण = अस्त्र-मन्त्रेण; कृतग्रन्थिकुशम् = कृत-ग्रन्थि-कुशम्; प्रादेशसम्मितम् = प्रादेश-सम्मितम्
Related Themes: Agni Purana 75 (Homa/Pūjā-vidhi sections on havis-saṃskāra, kuśa-prayoga, śodhana)
FAQs
It gives a precise homa-step: use the Astra-mantra to ritually ‘scorch/purify’ and then offer darbha into the fire, followed by preparing a hand-span knotted kuśa piece placed in ghee—standardized materials and measurements for correct ritual performance.
Beyond theology, it preserves operational ritual technology—mantra-application (Astra-mantra), liturgical materials (darbha/kuśa), and exact measurements (prādeśa). This procedural detail exemplifies the Agni Purana’s manual-like coverage of rites alongside broader dharma and knowledge systems.
The Astra-mantra and fire-contact function as purification and obstacle-clearing, while correctly prepared darbha/kuśa offerings uphold ritual accuracy (śuddhi and niyama), believed to ensure the rite’s efficacy and the performer’s merit through disciplined, fault-minimizing worship.