Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 52
Agnisthāpana-vidhi (Procedure for Establishing the Sacred Fire) and Protective Īśāna-kalpa Homa Sequences
होमं निर्वर्तयेदेवं ब्रह्मवीजपदैस्ततः घृतेन स्रुचि पूर्णायां निधायाधोमुखं स्रुवं
homaṃ nirvartayedevaṃ brahmavījapadaistataḥ ghṛtena sruci pūrṇāyāṃ nidhāyādhomukhaṃ sruvaṃ
Ainsi doit-on accomplir correctement le homa avec les syllabes-semences brahmaniques et les paroles du mantra ; puis, lorsque la louche (sruc) est remplie de ghee, on doit placer la cuillère d’offrande (sruva) tournée vers le bas.
Lord Agni (instructional narration to sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Execute homa with bīja-mantras and correct handling of sruc/sruva and ghee to maintain procedural purity and continuity of offerings.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Homa-prayoga: bīja-pada-japa and sruc-sruva handling with ghṛta","lookup_keywords":["homa prayoga","brahma bīja","sruc","sruva adhomukha","ghṛta āhuti"],"quick_summary":"Perform homa using bīja-syllables and mantra-words; fill the sruc with ghee and position the sruva downward as part of the correct offering sequence."}
Concept: Mantra and kriyā must be conjoined (mantra-kriyā-sāmya) for siddhi in ritual action.
Application: Coordinate recitation with exact hand-procedure; treat implements as extensions of attention (ekāgratā).
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Agni-vidya (Homa-prayoga: Vedic fire ritual procedure)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A priest chants bīja-mantras while filling the sruc with ghee and turning the sruva downward in a precise ritual gesture beside the homa fire.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, priest mid-chant with stylized mantra scroll motif, sruc brimming with ghee, sruva turned adhomukha, glowing homa flames, bold outlines","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf on ladles and fire altar rim, priest with sacred thread, ghee vessel shining, sruva shown clearly downward, temple sanctum ambiance","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, step-by-step instructional panel: (1) bīja recitation (2) sruc filled with ghṛta (3) sruva adhomukha placement, fine lines and soft colors","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate ritual scene with detailed brass implements, ghee sheen, calligraphic mantra band, careful depiction of hand positions"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: nirvartayedevaṃ split as nirvartayet + evam; brahmavījapadais split as brahma-vīja-padaiḥ; nidhāyādhomukhaṃ split as nidhāya + adho-mukham.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 75 (homa-krama; mantra and implement procedure); Agni Purana mantra/bīja discussions in adjacent ritual chapters
FAQs
It gives a precise homa-prayoga step: perform oblations accompanied by brahma-bīja/mantra-words, fill the sruc with ghee, and position the sruva downward as part of correct utensil-handling during offerings.
Beyond theology, it records operational ritual details—mantra-usage (bīja/pada) and exact implements (sruc/sruva) and their handling—showing the text as a practical manual for liturgy alongside its broader subjects.
Correct mantra-recitation and proper handling of ghee and offering implements are treated as essential for the purity and efficacy (śuddhi and phala) of homa, ensuring the rite yields intended merit and purification rather than ritual fault (doṣa).