Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 23
Worship of Gaurī and Others (Gauryādi-pūjā) — Mantra, Maṇḍala, Mudrā, Homa, and Mṛtyuñjaya Kalaśa-Rite
हूयमानञ्च प्रणवो मूर्तिरोजस ईदृशं मूलञ्च वौषडन्तेन कुम्भमुद्रां प्रदर्शयेत्
hūyamānañca praṇavo mūrtirojasa īdṛśaṃ mūlañca vauṣaḍantena kumbhamudrāṃ pradarśayet
供物を投ずる際には、プラナヴァ「オーム」を唱え、力強くこのように形相を顕現させるべきである。次いで、根本真言を感嘆句「ヴァウシャット（vauṣaṭ）」で結び、クンバ・ムドラー（壺の手印）を示す。
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in ritual procedure)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Homa-krama: oblation-time utterance of Praṇava, sealing the act with vauṣaṭ, and showing Kumbha-mudrā to stabilize and ‘contain’ the offering’s intent.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Homa-kāle Praṇava-uccāraṇa, Vauṣaṭ-anta-mūlamantra, Kumbha-mudrā","lookup_keywords":["homa","praṇava oṃ","vauṣaṭ","kumbha-mudrā","mūlamantra"],"quick_summary":"During oblation, utter Oṃ, complete the root-mantra with vauṣaṭ, and display Kumbha-mudrā as a ritual ‘container/seal’ for the offering."}
Concept: Śabda (praṇava) + kriyā (homa) + mudrā as integrated ritual technology to ‘fix’ intention and result.
Application: Maintain exact sequencing: oblation → Oṃ → mūlamantra ending in vauṣaṭ → Kumbha-mudrā to conclude/contain the act.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Mantra-japa, Homa, and Mudra-vidhi)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: śānta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A fire-altar homa scene: priest offers oblation into flames, chanting Oṃ; right hand forms Kumbha-mudrā like a pot-seal; the mantra ends with ‘vauṣaṭ’.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, homa-kuṇḍa with bright flames, priest in white mundu, sacred thread, hand in Kumbha-mudrā, stylized Oṃ glyph above, warm ochres and reds, flat iconic composition.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf accents on fire-altar and vessels, priest performing homa, prominent Oṃ emblem, Kumbha-mudrā hand gesture clearly outlined, rich maroons and greens, ornate borders.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional clarity: close view of hand forming Kumbha-mudrā, homa ladle and kuṇḍa, labeled feel without text, delicate lines, soft shading, calm ritual setting.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed yajña pavilion, small fire-altar, priest mid-chant, subtle depiction of Kumbha-mudrā, attendants holding vessels, fine textiles, naturalistic flames and architecture."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: hūyamānañca = hūyamānam + ca; mūrtirojasa = mūrtiḥ + ojasā; mūlañca = mūlam + ca; vauṣaḍantena = vauṣaṭ-antena.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 325 (Pūjā-vidhi: japa-homa-mudrā); Agni Purana 326 (Devālaya-māhātmya: ritual framing)
FAQs
It teaches a specific homa-prayoga: uttering Oṃ during oblation, concluding the principal (root) mantra with “vauṣaṭ,” and performing the Kumbha-mudrā as a prescribed ritual gesture.
Beyond mythology, the Agni Purana functions as a practical ritual compendium; this verse preserves precise operational details—mantra sequencing (praṇava + vauṣaṭ) and mudrā-performance—typical of procedural manuals embedded in Purāṇic literature.
Correct mantra-ending with “vauṣaṭ” and the accompanying mudrā are treated as completing the offering properly, aligning intention, sound (mantra), and action (gesture) to secure purification and effective ritual merit (puṇya).