Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 35
Chapter 24 — कुण्डनिर्माणादिविधिः
Procedure for Constructing the Fire-pit and Related Rites
हृदादिक्रमतो ध्यात्वा एकैकं कर्म पूज्य च अष्टावष्टौ तु जुहुयात् प्रतिकर्माहुतीः पुनः
hṛdādikramato dhyātvā ekaikaṃ karma pūjya ca aṣṭāvaṣṭau tu juhuyāt pratikarmāhutīḥ punaḥ
ഹൃദയം മുതലായ ക്രമത്തിൽ (ന്യാസാദി) ധ്യാനിച്ച്, ഓരോ കർമവും പ്രത്യേകം പൂജിക്കണം. തുടർന്ന് എട്ട്-എട്ട് ആഹുതികൾ അർപ്പിച്ച്, ഓരോ കർമത്തിനും അനുയോജ്യമായ ആഹുതികൾ വീണ്ടും ഒരിക്കൽ ആവർത്തിക്കണം.
Lord Agni (in dialogue instruction to Sage Vasiṣṭha, standard Agni Purāṇa framing)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Stepwise nyāsa-based visualization and homa counting (8+8) for ritual correctness; used by priests/sādhakas to structure pūjā and oblation cycles.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Hṛd-ādi-nyāsa-krama and Prati-karman Homa (Aṣṭāṣṭa-āhuti)","lookup_keywords":["hṛd-nyāsa","nyāsa-krama","aṣṭāṣṭa āhuti","prati-karman","homa"],"quick_summary":"Prescribes meditative nyāsa beginning from the heart and a structured oblation count (eight and eight), repeating rite-specific offerings. Ensures mantra-body alignment and procedural completeness in homa."}
Concept: Nyāsa links mantra to the practitioner’s embodied awareness; repetition and counting cultivate steadiness (ekāgratā) and ritual integrity.
Application: Use a fixed sequence (hṛd-ādi) and fixed counts to avoid omissions; treat each karmāṅga as a distinct worship-object before offering.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Mantra-nyasa and Homa procedure)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sādhaka seated before a fire altar, performing hṛd-ādi nyāsa (touching heart and other loci in order), then offering measured oblations in two sets of eight, with each rite honored separately.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized yajña-kuṇḍa with flames, sādhaka in white, hand gestures showing nyāsa on chest, orderly rows of offering bowls, rhythmic repetition implied by repeated ladle motion, ornate border motifs.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold accents on fire and ladle, central homa scene with clear altar geometry, eight-and-eight offerings shown as symmetrical arrangement of small ghee lamps/offerings, devotional aura.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional clarity: labeled body-points for hṛd-ādi nyāsa, then two columns of eight āhutis, neat depiction of sruva/sruc and kuṇḍa, subdued elegant colors.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed ritual paraphernalia, close attention to hands performing nyāsa, attendants holding offerings, architectural interior with patterned carpets, sequential action within one frame."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: हृदादिक्रमतो = हृदादि-क्रमतः; प्रतिकर्माहुतीः = प्रति + कर्म + आहुतीः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Pūjā-vidhi sections on nyāsa, aṅga-nyāsa/karanyāsa, homa-vidhi and āhuti counts
FAQs
It teaches a precise ritual sequence: visualize/perform nyāsa starting from the heart in proper order, worship each ritual component, then perform homa with a prescribed count of oblations (two sets of eight), repeating rite-specific oblations.
Beyond mythology, it preserves operational ritual protocol—ordered visualization (nyāsa), component-wise worship, and quantified oblation rules—showing the Agni Purāṇa as a manual of applied liturgy and temple/household ritual practice.
The ordered meditation and repeated, rite-specific oblations are meant to ensure completeness (pūrṇatā) and purity (śuddhi) of the rite, aligning intention, body-mapping (nyāsa), and fire-offering so the karma bears its intended sacrificial and purificatory result.