Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 39
Chapter 303: Mantras for Worship Beginning with the Five-syllable (Pañcākṣara) — पञ्चाक्षरादिपूजामन्त्राः
कमलानना इति ञ सन्धादिमेखले इति ख एकैकस्य शतं हुत्वा व्योममूलेन होमयेत् हुत्वा पूर्णाहुतिं कुर्यादस्त्रेणाष्टाहुतीर्हुनेत्
kamalānanā iti ña sandhādimekhale iti kha ekaikasya śataṃ hutvā vyomamūlena homayet hutvā pūrṇāhutiṃ kuryādastreṇāṣṭāhutīrhunet
“कमलानना” (ञ) तथा “सन्धादिमेखले” (ख) इन बीज-रूप सूत्रों से प्रत्येक के सौ-सौ आहुति दे। फिर “व्योम-मूल” मंत्र से होम करे। अंत में पूर्णाहुति करे और अस्त्र-मंत्र से आठ आहुतियाँ दे।
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in ritual procedure, as typical of the Agni Purana’s dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Execute japa/homa counts with specified bija-formulas (kamalānanā = ña; sandhādimekhale = kha), offering 100 oblations each; then homa with Vyoma-mūla, complete pūrṇāhuti, and seal with eight oblations using the Astra-mantra for protection/closure.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Homa Counts with Kamalānanā/Sandhādimekhale, Vyoma-mūla, Pūrṇāhuti, and Astra-Sealing","lookup_keywords":["kamalanana","sandhadimekhale","vyoma-mula","purnahuti","astra-mantra"],"quick_summary":"Perform fixed-number oblations with designated mantra-syllables, proceed with the Vyoma-mūla offering, conclude with pūrṇāhuti, and finalize with eight Astra-mantra oblations to ritually seal and protect the rite."}
Weapon Type: Astra (mantric weapon as protective discharge)
Concept: Mantra is operationalized through number (saṅkhyā) and sequence (krama): repetition, culmination (pūrṇāhuti), and protective closure (astra).
Application: Maintain strict counts and closing rites in homa to avoid procedural incompleteness and to ‘seal’ the intended sankalpa.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Agni-vidhi (Mantra-japa and Homa procedure)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A homa altar with the officiant offering repeated oblations while reciting specific bija-formulas; a highlighted moment of pūrṇāhuti, followed by eight final ‘astra’ offerings forming a protective ring of light around the fire.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, rhythmic sequence of offerings into a bright fire, stylized syllable-glyphs near the flames (ña, kha, vyoma), concluding burst for pūrṇāhuti, then eight small flame-marks around as astra-seal.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf flames and ornate ladle, pūrṇāhuti depicted as a radiant golden flare, eight smaller offerings encircling the altar like a protective aureole.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional depiction with count markers (100 + 100 + concluding steps), clear visualization of pūrṇāhuti and eight astra oblations, fine linework and calm palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed ritual implements and attendants, sequential offering scene, luminous final oblation, eight small sparks arranged symmetrically around the fire to indicate astra sealing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: व्योममूलेन = व्योम + मूलेन (अ + म → अम्). पूर्णाहुतिं = पूर्ण + आहुतिम् (अ + आ → आ). कुर्यादस्त्रेण = कुर्यात् + अस्त्रेण (त् + अ → द). अष्टाहुतीर्हुनेत् = अष्टाहुतीः + हुनेत् (ः + ह → र्ह).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 303 (homa-krama, pūrṇāhuti, astra usage); Agni Purana mantra sections on mūla-mantra and aṅga/astramantra applications
FAQs
It gives an exact homa-prayoga: offer 100 oblations for each of two specified mantra-formulas, then perform oblations with the Vyoma-mūla mantra, conclude with a pūrṇāhuti, and finally offer 8 oblations with the Astra-mantra for ritual sealing/protection.
Beyond mythic narration, it preserves operational ritual details—mantra identifiers, exact oblation counts, sequencing (main offerings → root-mantra homa → pūrṇāhuti → protective astra offerings)—illustrating the text’s manual-like coverage of worship technology (puja-vidhi/tantric prayoga).
Correct counts and the concluding pūrṇāhuti are understood to complete and stabilize the rite, while the Astra-mantra oblations function as protective closure—aimed at purification, successful completion (siddhi), and safeguarding the performer and the ritual space.