Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 47
Agnisthāpana-vidhi (Procedure for Establishing the Sacred Fire) and Protective Īśāna-kalpa Homa Sequences
घृतस्य कार्षिको होमः क्षीरस्य मधुनस् तथा शक्तिमात्राहुतिर्दध्नः प्रसृतिः पायस्यतु
ghṛtasya kārṣiko homaḥ kṣīrasya madhunas tathā śaktimātrāhutirdadhnaḥ prasṛtiḥ pāyasyatu
Pour le ghee (ghṛta), l’offrande au feu doit être de la mesure d’un kārṣa; de même pour le lait et pour le miel. Pour le caillé (dadhi), l’oblation est dite n’être que śakti-mātra, c’est-à-dire une cuillerée; et pour le pāyasa (riz au lait), c’est une prasṛti, la mesure d’une main en coupe.
Lord Agni (narrating ritual procedure to Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s instructional mode)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Standardize homa offering measures for common dravyas (ghee, milk, honey, curd, pāyasa) to maintain ritual correctness and repeatability.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Homa-dravya Mātrā: Kārṣa, Śakti-mātra, Prasṛti","lookup_keywords":["ghṛta-homa","kārṣa","śakti-mātra","prasṛti","pāyasa"],"quick_summary":"Use fixed measures for offerings: ghee/milk/honey in kārṣa measure; curd in a small spoonful (śakti-mātra); pāyasa in a prasṛti (cupped-hand) measure."}
Dosha: Tridosha
Concept: Ritual efficacy is supported by niyama (rule) and mātrā (measure); correct proportion is itself a form of dharma in yajña.
Application: When performing homa, pre-measure dravyas to avoid excess/deficit; keep consistent units across sessions for reproducibility.
Khanda Section: Agneya-vidya (Homa & Yajna-vidhi / Ritual Offerings)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual setup with labeled containers of ghee, milk, honey, curd, and pāyasa; a priest measures each with traditional units (kārṣa weight, small spoon, cupped-hand) before offering into the fire.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, homa scene with vessels arranged, stylized measuring gestures, inscriptions of units (kārṣa, prasṛti), warm firelight, traditional ornamentation","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, richly decorated vessels with gold accents, priest offering measured āhutis, fire altar central, emphasis on abundance yet measured order","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional still-life: show each dravya with its measure tool (weight/scale, spoon, cupped-hand), clean composition, clear didactic focus","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed utensils and bowls, careful measuring with small ladle, smoke curling, intimate domestic-ritual ambiance"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shuddha Kalyan","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: शक्तिमात्राहुतिः = शक्ति + मात्रा + आहुतिः
Related Themes: Agni Purana 75 (homa-dravya and mātrā rules)
FAQs
It specifies standardized quantities (māna) for homa offerings—kārṣa for ghee/milk/honey, śakti-mātra for curd, and prasṛti for pāyasa—so the rite is performed with correct proportion.
Beyond mythic narration, it preserves procedural ritual science—precise measurement systems and material-specific rules—showing the Agni Purāṇa as a compendium of applied dharma and liturgical technique.
Correctly measured āhutis are treated as part of śāstra-compliant performance (vidhi), supporting purity, efficacy of the homa, and the intended religious merit (puṇya) of the rite.