Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 11
Chapter 41 — शिलाविन्यासविधानं
The Procedure for Laying the Stones / Foundation Setting
लोकेशानामग्नये वै सोमायावग्रहेषु च पुरुषोत्तमायेति च व्याहृतीर्जुहुयात्ततः
lokeśānāmagnaye vai somāyāvagraheṣu ca puruṣottamāyeti ca vyāhṛtīrjuhuyāttataḥ
तत्पश्चात् व्याहृतियाँ उच्चारते हुए अग्नि में आहुति दे—‘अग्नये वै’, ‘सोमाय’, ‘अवग्रहेषु’, तथा ‘पुरुषोत्तमाय’—इस प्रकार।
Lord Agni (teaching sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Perform vyāhṛti-based āhutis naming specific deities/powers (Agni, Soma, Avagraha-seizers, Puruṣottama) to align the homa with cosmic and protective functions.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Mantra","entry_title":"Vyāhṛti-homa: Agni–Soma–Avagraha–Puruṣottama Āhuti","lookup_keywords":["vyāhṛti","Agni","Soma","Avagraha","Puruṣottama"],"quick_summary":"Offer oblations while uttering the vyāhṛti invocations directed to Agni, Soma, the Avagraha/seizing forces, and Puruṣottama—framing the homa as both nourishment of deities and pacification of obstructive powers."}
Concept: Mantra as address (uddeśa) that specifies the recipient-power of an offering; naming channels intention and effect.
Application: In śānti contexts, include both benefic deities (Agni/Soma) and graha-like seizers (avagraha) to cover nourishment and pacification together.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Homa and Vyahriti-Mantra Prayoga)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"The priest offers successive āhutis, each accompanied by a distinct invocation: Agni, Soma, the seizing Avagrahas, and Puruṣottama—suggesting both propitiation and protection.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, fourfold aura motifs around the fire: red for Agni, cool white for Soma, dark protective ring for Avagraha-seizers, golden Vishnu-like radiance for Puruṣottama; priest mid-offering, stylized flames and lotus borders","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central homa fire with four small emblem panels: Agni flame icon, Soma crescent, protective talisman for Avagraha, Vishnu/Puruṣottama symbol; gold leaf on halos and ornaments, symmetrical devotional layout","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, didactic layout with four labeled offerings in sequence, clear depiction of ladle movement and mantra focus, soft palette, fine ornamentation, emphasis on clarity of ritual steps","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly yajña pavilion with meticulous detail; four attendants hold symbolic items (fire brand, moon-disc, protective amulet, conch/discus) corresponding to the invoked powers; refined calligraphy-like mantra captions"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: लोकेशानामग्नये = लोकेशानाम् + अग्नये; सोमायावग्रहेषु = सोमाय + अवग्रहेषु; पुरुषोत्तमायेति = पुरुषोत्तमाय + इति; व्याहृतीर्जुहुयात् = व्याहृतीः + जुहुयात्;
Related Themes: Agni Purana 41 (Vyāhṛti-mantra prayoga); Agni Purana śānti-karma and graha-śānti related passages (general)
FAQs
It prescribes a specific homa procedure: offering oblations while reciting designated vyāhṛti-style invocations addressed to Agni, Soma, the Avagrahas (obstructive ‘seizers’), and Puruṣottama.
It functions like a ritual manual embedded within the Purana—cataloging practical mantra-uses for worship and protection (including graha/avagraha-related appeasement), alongside its many other domains of knowledge.
Homa with correctly directed mantras is presented as a purificatory and protective act—aligning the sacrificer with cosmic powers (Agni/Soma) while pacifying obstructive influences (Avagrahas) under the supreme auspice of Puruṣottama.