Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 16
Chapter 39 — भूपरिग्रहविधानम्
Bhū-parigraha-vidhāna: Procedure for Acquiring and Ritually Securing Land
प्राकारसीमापर्यन्तं ततो भुतबलिं हरेत् माषं हरिद्राचूर्णन्तु सलाजं दधिसक्तुभिः
prākārasīmāparyantaṃ tato bhutabaliṃ haret māṣaṃ haridrācūrṇantu salājaṃ dadhisaktubhiḥ
次に、（儀礼区域の）囲い壁の境界に至るまで、ブータ・バリ（bhūta-bali）—ブータ（精霊・元素的存在）への供物—を行う。すなわち、マーシャ（黒豆）、ウコン粉、サラージャ（炒り米）を、ダディ（凝乳）とサクトゥ（粉の混合物）とともに供える。
Lord Agni
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Perform bhūta-bali offerings along the enclosure boundary to pacify/propitiate elemental beings and protect the ritual/building space.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Bhūta-bali at prākāra-sīmā with māṣa, haridrā, lāja, dadhi and saktu","lookup_keywords":["bhūta-bali","prākāra-sīmā","māṣa","haridrā","lāja"],"quick_summary":"Carry offerings up to the compound boundary to appease bhūtas: black gram, turmeric powder, parched rice, curds, and saktu—serving as protective, harmonizing ritual food."}
Concept: Ritual ecology: acknowledging and harmonizing with bhūtas/elemental presences to remove obstacles (vighna) and stabilize sacred space.
Application: Before/around consecration or major rites, perform perimeter offerings with specified items to create a protective, pacified boundary.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Bhuta-bali and protective offerings within ritual boundaries)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Sacred-boundary
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A priest walks along the inner edge of a compound wall carrying a tray of offerings—black gram, turmeric powder, parched rice, curds, and saktu—placing small portions at intervals to pacify bhūtas and seal the perimeter.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, priest in white with ritual tray, prākāra wall curving behind, small offering spots along the boundary, turmeric yellow prominent, lamps and protective motifs, subdued sacred ambience","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold accents on offering vessels and lamps, priest offering at the boundary, bright turmeric and white curds depicted richly, temple wall and gateway, ornate gilded border","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, step-by-step instructional scene: perimeter path, labeled ingredients (māṣa, haridrā, lāja, dadhi, saktu), priest placing offerings at marked points, clean composition","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtyard with enclosing wall, priest and attendants carrying bowls, small heaps of offerings placed along the wall, delicate architectural detailing, soft pastel palette"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Punnagavarali","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: हरिद्राचूर्णन्तु → हरिद्राचूर्णम् तु; भुतबलिं → भूतबलिम् (spelling normalization); दधिसक्तुभिः treated as द्वन्द्व compound.
Related Themes: Agni Purana ritual sections on bali, rakṣā, and prākāra-related rites; Agni Purana 39 context: post-site preparation protective procedures
FAQs
It prescribes the procedure for bhūta-bali—carrying offerings up to the enclosure boundary and using specific items (black gram, turmeric powder, parched rice, curds, and saktu) as the bali-materials.
By detailing practical, itemized ritual materials and spatial rules (offering up to the prākāra-sīmā), it exemplifies the Agni Purana’s manual-like coverage of temple/household worship techniques alongside broader theology.
Bhūta-bali is a pacificatory and protective act: it harmonizes the ritual space by satisfying peripheral beings and mitigating disturbances, supporting purity, safety, and the successful completion of worship.