Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 43
Dīkṣāvidhi-kathana
Explanation of the Rite of Initiation
ताडनेन वियोज्यैवं आदायापाद्य शाम्यतां प्रकृत्याहृत्य जुहुयाद्यथोक्ते जातवेदसि
tāḍanena viyojyaivaṃ ādāyāpādya śāmyatāṃ prakṛtyāhṛtya juhuyādyathokte jātavedasi
આ રીતે તાડન કરીને તેને અલગ કરવું; પછી તેને ઉઠાવી નજીક લાવી ક્રિયાને શાંત કરવી। તેને તેની મૂળ-પ્રકૃતિમાં પાછું સ્થાપી, યથોક્ત રીતે જાતવેદસ (યજ્ઞાગ્નિ)માં આહુતિ આપવી।
Lord Agni (teaching the ritual method to a sage, traditionally Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Corrective handling in homa: separating a faulty/impure offering, restoring ritual order, then offering into Jātavedas exactly per injunction.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Homa-prāyaścitta handling: separation, pacification, and re-offering to Jātavedas","lookup_keywords":["homa-prayoga","jatavedas","prayaschitta","offering correction","tadana"],"quick_summary":"When an offering is disturbed or improperly placed, it is separated (by striking), retrieved and brought near, the rite is pacified, the substance is restored to its proper state, and then offered into the consecrated fire as prescribed."}
Concept: Ritual correctness (yathokta) and expiatory restoration (śamana) preserve the integrity of sacrifice.
Application: In practice, pause, correct the material/placement, perform pacifying steps, and only then proceed—avoiding compounding errors in ritual sequences.
Khanda Section: Agni-vidhi / Homa-prayoga (Fire-ritual procedure and expiatory handling of offerings)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A priest at a fire-altar corrects a disturbed offering: he separates it with a small ritual strike, lifts it, brings it near the fire, performs a calming gesture/mantra, then offers it properly into the flames.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, homa-kunda with stylized flames; priest performing a precise corrective gesture with ladle and offering; attendants holding vessels; emphasis on hand-mudrā and sequence panels.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, richly ornamented fire-altar; priest with ladle, gold-highlighted flames; the offering shown being lifted and then poured; decorative borders, sacred implements rendered with metallic sheen.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean instructional composition: four-step vignette (separate, lift, pacify, offer) around a central fire; fine lines, soft colors, clear ritual tools.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed yajña scene with utensils; priest carefully retrieving an offering; smoke curls; courtly interior; marginal notes indicating steps; naturalistic firelight."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वियोज्य + एवम् → वियोज्यैवम्; आदाय + आपाद्य → आदायापाद्य; प्रकृत्या + आहृत्य → प्रकृत्याहृत्य; जुहुयात् + यथा → जुहुयाद्यथा; यथा + उक्ते → यथोक्ते.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 27 (Agni-vidhi / homa-prayoga subsections on offerings, faults, and pacification)
FAQs
It gives a corrective homa procedure: if an offering or ritual element is disturbed, it should be separated by a controlled strike, properly retrieved and repositioned, ritually “pacified,” restored to its proper condition, and then offered into Jātavedas exactly according to injunction.
Beyond theology, it preserves operational ritual know-how—minute, practical steps for handling errors and restoring correctness in fire offerings—showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of procedural liturgy alongside broader subjects.
It emphasizes maintaining ritual purity and correctness: restoring an offering to its proper state and performing the homa “as prescribed” is presented as a means to avert fault (doṣa) and re-establish auspiciousness and merit (puṇya) in the rite.