Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 65
Chapter 81 — समयदीक्षाविधानम्
Procedure for Samaya Initiation
शिवाग्नौ मूलमन्त्रेण पूर्वास्यश् चरुकं पचेत् सुखिन्ने तत्र तच्चुल्ल्यां श्रुवमापूर्य सर्पिषा
śivāgnau mūlamantreṇa pūrvāsyaś carukaṃ pacet sukhinne tatra taccullyāṃ śruvamāpūrya sarpiṣā
Tourné vers l’est, on doit cuire le caru (bouillie sacrificielle) dans le feu de Śiva en récitant le mūla-mantra. Lorsqu’il est cuit comme il convient, sur ce même foyer on remplit le śruva (louche rituelle) de ghee.
Lord Agni (narrating ritual procedure, traditionally to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Performing homa cooking of caru while oriented east, using the mūla-mantra, then preparing ghee-ladle offerings for oblations.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Śivāgni caru-pāka with mūla-mantra and ghee-filled śruva","lookup_keywords":["Śivāgni","mūla-mantra","caru","pāka (cooking)","śruva-sarpis"],"quick_summary":"Cook the caru in the Śiva-fire while facing east and reciting the root-mantra; once properly cooked, fill the śruva ladle with ghee at the same hearth for subsequent offerings."}
Concept: Yajña-krama (ordered sacrificial sequence) and dik-niyama (directional discipline).
Application: Maintain correct orientation, mantra-continuity, and readiness of offering media (ghee in śruva) to keep ritual flow unbroken.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Homa and Mantra Ritual Procedure)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"An east-facing officiant cooks caru on a hearth identified as Śiva-fire, chanting mūla-mantra, then fills a śruva ladle with ghee for offerings.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized homa scene with bright flame, priest facing east (sun motif), pot of caru simmering, śruva ladle and ghee vessel prominent, minimal depth, sacred borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central homa fire with gold leaf flames, priest with rudrākṣa accents (Śiva association), caru pot and ornate śruva, rich temple décor.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean instructional depiction of hearth (cullī), caru pot, ghee vessel, and śruva; priest shown in profile facing east with subtle mantra text ribbon.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed utensils and textures: bubbling caru, glossy ghee, metal ladle; priest seated on carpet, firelight illuminating the scene, fine architectural interior."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: शिवाग्नौ = शिव + अग्नौ; मूलमन्त्रेण = मूल-मन्त्रेण; पूर्वास्यश् = पूर्वास्यः (visarga before c); तच्चुल्ल्यां = तत् + चुल्ल्याम्; श्रुवमापूर्य = श्रुवम् + आपूर्य
Related Themes: Agni Purana 81 (homa-vidhi sequence: caru, śruva, sārpiṣa offerings)
FAQs
It gives a practical Śaiva-homa instruction: cook the caru while reciting the mūla-mantra, face east, and once the caru is properly cooked, prepare ghee in the śruva ladle for offering.
Beyond mythology, the Agni Purana preserves step-by-step operational details of pūjā and homa—orientation, implements (śruva), materials (caru, ghee), and mantra-application—showing it as a manual of ritual technology alongside other sciences.
Correct preparation and offering—performed with mantra, proper direction, and prescribed substances—supports ritual purity and efficacy (siddhi) of the Śiva-yajña, understood to generate merit (puṇya) and purification through disciplined worship.