Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 17
Chapter 24 — कुण्डनिर्माणादिविधिः
Procedure for Constructing the Fire-pit and Related Rites
स्रुवन्तु हस्तमात्रं स्याद्दण्डकेन समन्वितं वटुकं द्व्यङ्गुलं वृत्तं कर्तव्यन्तु सुशोभनं
sruvantu hastamātraṃ syāddaṇḍakena samanvitaṃ vaṭukaṃ dvyaṅgulaṃ vṛttaṃ kartavyantu suśobhanaṃ
ស្រុវ (sruva) គួរមានប្រវែងស្មើមួយដៃ ហើយភ្ជាប់ជាមួយដង។ ចាន/ពែង (vaṭuka) របស់វា ត្រូវធ្វើជារង្វង់ មានមាត្រពីរទទឹងម្រាមដៃ ហើយត្រូវធ្វើឲ្យរលូន ស្អាត និងគួរឲ្យចាប់អារម្មណ៍។
Lord Agni (in instruction to Sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Standardizing the construction of a homa implement (sruva): ensuring correct length, handle attachment, and bowl size/shape for safe, efficient oblation offering.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Sruva-lakṣaṇa (homa ladle dimensions and form)","lookup_keywords":["sruva","homa","daṇḍa","vaṭuka","dvy-aṅgula"],"quick_summary":"Make the sruva one hand-length with a handle; form a neat round bowl (vaṭuka) of two aṅgulas to pour offerings cleanly into the fire."}
Concept: Ritual efficacy is supported by correct upakaraṇa (implements) made to measure—outer precision serving inner intention.
Application: Prepare standardized sruva dimensions to avoid spillage/burning and to maintain consistent offering quantity in homa.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Agni-karya / Homa-vidhi implements)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A homa setting with a crafted sruva: hand-length ladle with a handle and a small round bowl of two aṅgulas; the artisan presents it near a fire-altar.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, homa scene with altar and flames, sruva prominently shown with clear proportions, priest and artisan figures, traditional reds/ochres, sacred ambience.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, sruva and homa-kunda centered with gold highlights on the ladle and flames, rich decorative borders, devotional ritual atmosphere.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional depiction of sruva with labeled hasta-mātra length and 2-aṅgula round vaṭuka, alongside a simple homa-kunda diagram.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly patron observing a priest’s homa, detailed rendering of the sruva in hand, fine flame textures, delicate linework and balanced composition."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: स्रुवन्तु = स्रुवम् + तु; स्याद्दण्डकेन = स्यात् + दण्डकेन; द्व्यङ्गुलम् = द्वि + अङ्गुलम्; कर्तव्यन्तु = कर्तव्यम् + तु.
Related Themes: Agni Purana (Pūjā-vidhi/Homa-vidhi implement lists in the same khanda); Agni Purana (Agni-kārya and dravya/upakaraṇa descriptions elsewhere)
FAQs
It specifies the correct construction standards for the homa-ladle (sruva): overall hand-length, a fitted handle, and a round bowl sized at two aṅgulas—practical guidance for accurate offerings in fire-rituals.
Beyond theology, it preserves precise technical standards—tools, measurements, and craftsmanship—for ritual performance, showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of applied liturgy alongside doctrine.
Using properly proportioned and well-made ritual implements supports correct homa procedure, which is traditionally held to enhance purity (śuddhi), effectiveness of offerings, and the intended religious merit (puṇya).