Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 23
Māheśvara-snāna: Lakṣa/Koṭi-homa, Protective Baths, Unguents, and Graha-Śānti
चतुरस्रकरे कुण्डे ब्राह्मणाश्चाष्ट शोडश लक्षहोमङ्कोटिहोमन्तिलाज्ययवधान्यकैः
caturasrakare kuṇḍe brāhmaṇāścāṣṭa śoḍaśa lakṣahomaṅkoṭihomantilājyayavadhānyakaiḥ
Di dalam kuṇḍa berbentuk persegi, delapan atau enam belas brāhmaṇa hendaknya melaksanakan persembahan homa sebanyak satu lakh atau bahkan satu koṭi, dengan wijen, ghee, jelai, dan biji-bijian sebagai bahan persembahan.
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s dialogic frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Homa logistics: specifying kuṇḍa shape (square), officiant count (8/16 brāhmaṇas), scale of oblations (lakṣa/koṭi), and standard havis materials (tila, ājya, yava, dhānya).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Agnihotra/Homa: Caturasra-kuṇḍa, Ṛtvij count, and Lakṣa/Koṭi-homa with Tila-Ājya-Yava","lookup_keywords":["caturasra-kuṇḍa","lakṣa-homa","koṭi-homa","tila-ājya-yava","brāhmaṇa-ṛtvij"],"quick_summary":"A square fire-pit is prescribed, with 8 or 16 brāhmaṇas officiating; oblations may be performed at large scale (100,000 to 10,000,000) using sesame, ghee, barley, and grains."}
Concept: Yajña as regulated action: correct form (kuṇḍa), qualified agents (brāhmaṇas), and proper dravya/saṅkhyā produce intended śānti/phala.
Application: When commissioning a homa, plan geometry, priest team size, and offering inventory proportional to the intended count (lakṣa/koṭi) to maintain ritual integrity.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Agni-hotra & Homa-vidhi (Vedic fire-ritual procedure)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A square homa-kuṇḍa with blazing fire; eight or sixteen brāhmaṇas seated around, offering sesame, ghee, barley, and grains in a large-count homa.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, square fire altar at center, ring of priests in white, stylized flames, offering ladles, bowls of tila and yava, rhythmic temple-hall backdrop","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central square kuṇḍa with gold-highlighted flames, priests symmetrically arranged, ornate ritual vessels with gold accents, rich maroons and greens","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, diagrammatic clarity: square kuṇḍa proportions, placement of priests (8/16), labeled offering bowls (tila, ājya, yava, dhānya), fine linework","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed yajña scene in a pavilion, square fire pit, priests chanting, attendants bringing trays of grains and ghee, intricate textiles and architecture"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ब्राह्मणाश्च = ब्राह्मणाः + च; चाष्ट = च + अष्ट। समास-समुच्चयः: लक्षहोमम् + कोटिहोमम् + तिलाज्ययवधान्यकैः।
Related Themes: Agni Purana homa/śānti sections around 266 (kuṇḍa, dravya, saṅkhyā prescriptions)
FAQs
It specifies homa-vidhi parameters: the square (caturasra) kuṇḍa, the officiating priest-count (8 or 16 Brāhmaṇas), the prescribed scale of oblations (lakṣa or koṭi), and standard offering substances (tila, ājya, yava, dhānya).
It functions like a ritual manual entry—combining altar geometry, staffing norms, quantitative targets for oblations, and approved dravya (offering materials), illustrating the Agni Purāṇa’s practical coverage of yajña/homa technology alongside its many other disciplines.
By prescribing correct altar form, qualified officiants, and properly counted oblations with pure substances, the verse emphasizes ritual precision as a means to secure merit (puṇya), purification, and effective fruition (siddhi) of the homa.