Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 43
Agnisthāpana-vidhi (Procedure for Establishing the Sacred Fire) and Protective Īśāna-kalpa Homa Sequences
ईशेन वह्निमभ्यर्च्य दत्वास्त्रेणाहुतित्रयं कुर्यात् सर्वात्मना नाम शिवाग्निस्त्वं हुताशन
īśena vahnimabhyarcya datvāstreṇāhutitrayaṃ kuryāt sarvātmanā nāma śivāgnistvaṃ hutāśana
Après avoir honoré le feu par le mantra (d’Īśāna), puis offert trois oblations avec l’Astra-mantra, on doit accomplir l’acte de tout son être, en disant : « Par le nom, tu es Śivāgni — ô Hutāśana (Feu), reçois l’offrande. »
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha; standard Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Īśāna-kalpa homa step: worship Agni with Īśāna mantra, then perform three astra-mantra oblations, affirming Agni as Śivāgni for complete offering.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Īśāna-arcana & Astra-tri-āhuti (Śivāgni-bhāva)","lookup_keywords":["Īśāna mantra","astra-mantra","tri-āhuti","Śivāgni","hutāśana"],"quick_summary":"Consecrate the fire as Śiva’s fire by Īśāna worship, then offer three oblations with the Astra-mantra; maintain total personal engagement (sarvātmanā) while addressing Agni as Śivāgni."}
Concept: Sarvātmanā—totality of self in ritual action; identification of element (Agni) with supreme principle (Śiva) for efficacy.
Application: Use astra-mantra oblations as a protective closure/fortification step and keep unwavering attention to avoid ritual leakage (apacāra).
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Isana-kalpa / Agni-homa mantra-prayoga)
Primary Rasa: vīra
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"The priest first offers flowers/incense to the fire as Īśāna, then makes three decisive ghee offerings with a protective astra-mantra; the fire is visualized as Śivāgni with a Śiva-like aura.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, intense stylized flames with a subtle Śiva visage within, priest performing three counted offerings, protective circular aura lines indicating astra-rakṣā, traditional mural palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Agni with gold halo labeled Śivāgni, priest making three oblations (three small gold-highlighted arcs), ornate temple lamps, rich gold work.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, step-by-step panel: (1) Īśāna worship of fire, (2) three astra oblations marked 1-2-3, (3) mantra caption ‘Śivāgnistvaṃ hutāśana’, clean instructional clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined ritual interior, three sequential moments shown as a triptych, delicate calligraphy for astra-mantra, fire rendered with luminous pigments and subtle anthropomorphic presence."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वह्निमभ्यर्च्य = वह्निम् अभ्यर्च्य; दत्वास्त्रेण = दत्वा अस्त्रेण; अस्त्रेणाहुतित्रयम् = अस्त्रेण आहुति-त्रयम्; शिवाग्निः = शिव-अग्निः; शिवाग्निस्त्वम् = शिव-अग्निः त्वम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 75.40-75.42 (pañcabrahma linking and unification); Agni Purana 75.44 (post-homa transition toward pitṛ offerings)
FAQs
It teaches a precise homa sequence: worship the fire with the Īśāna-mantra, then offer three oblations using the Astra-mantra, while identifying the fire as Śivāgni (Śiva present as fire).
It preserves applied ritual technology—mantra-prayoga, oblation counts, and protective ‘astra’ sealing—showing the Purāṇa functioning as a practical manual of worship alongside its mythic and doctrinal material.
Wholehearted performance and correct mantra-application sacralize the homa, framing Agni as Śiva’s embodiment; this is traditionally held to purify obstacles, protect the rite, and generate merit through properly offered āhutis.