Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 26
Chapter 34 — होमादिविधिः
The Procedure for Homa and Related Rites
अर्घ्योदकेन सम्प्रोक्ष्य योनिमुद्राम्प्रदर्शयेत् ध्यात्वाग्निरूपञ्चाग्निन्तु योन्यां कुण्डे क्षिपेन्नरः
arghyodakena samprokṣya yonimudrāmpradarśayet dhyātvāgnirūpañcāgnintu yonyāṃ kuṇḍe kṣipennaraḥ
അർഘ്യജലത്തോടെ സമ്യക് പ്രോക്ഷണം ചെയ്ത് യോനിമുദ്ര പ്രദർശിപ്പിക്കണം. തുടർന്ന് അഗ്നിരൂപം ധ്യാനിച്ച്, യോനിയിൽ അഗ്നിയെ സ്ഥാപിച്ച് കുണ്ഡത്തിലേക്ക് നിക്ഷേപിക്കണം.
Lord Agni (in dialogue with Sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purana’s standard narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Homa ignition/installation protocol: sprinkle with arghya-water for śuddhi, show yoni-mudrā, meditate on Agni’s form, then establish/introduce fire into the yoni-holder and into the kuṇḍa for the rite.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Arghya-prokṣaṇa, Yoni-mudrā, and Agni-sthāpana in Kuṇḍa","lookup_keywords":["yoni-mudrā","prokṣaṇa","arghya-udaka","agni-dhyāna","kuṇḍa"],"quick_summary":"Purify the locus with arghya-water, seal/authorize the rite with yoni-mudrā, visualize Agni, and then install the fire into its source-holder and the fire-pit to commence homa."}
Concept: Ritual action is empowered by inner visualization: dhyāna of Agni and mudrā together ‘install’ sacred agency into the material fire.
Application: Before lighting/placing fire, perform prokṣaṇa and mudrā, then consciously visualize Agni; treat ignition as a consecration, not mere kindling.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Agni-vidhi / Homa-prayoga)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A homa setup: the practitioner sprinkles arghya-water around the kuṇḍa, forms yoni-mudrā with hands, visualizes Agni, then places the kindled fire into the yoni-holder and transfers it into the fire-pit where flames rise.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, glowing kuṇḍa with stylized flames, priest sprinkling water with spoon, hands forming yoni-mudrā, faint divine Agni form emerging in aura, deep reds and browns, lamp-lit sanctity.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Agni as radiant deity above the kuṇḍa with gold leaf halo, priest performing yoni-mudrā, arghya-water sprinkling captured as pearls, ornate ritual vessels, rich gold detailing.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, stepwise instructional scene: prokṣaṇa around kuṇḍa, yoni-mudrā hand diagram inset, Agni-dhyāna icon inset, then fire placed into yoni and kuṇḍa, clean composition.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed homa pavilion, priest sprinkling water, precise hand gesture for yoni-mudrā, attendants holding firebrand and vessels, flames rendered naturalistically, subtle divine Agni apparition."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: arghyodakena → arghya-udakena; yonimudrāmpradarśayet → yoni-mudrām pradarśayet; dhyātvāgnirūpaṃ → dhyātvā agni-rūpam; -ñcāgnintu → ca agnim tu; kṣipennaraḥ → kṣipet naraḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 34 (Agni-vidhi/homa-prayoga; mudrā and dhyāna steps)
FAQs
It teaches a concrete homa sequence: purification by sprinkling with arghya-water, performing the Yoni-mudrā, visualizing Agni’s form (dhyāna), and ritually installing/introducing the consecrated fire into the designated seat and into the homa-kuṇḍa.
Beyond theology, it preserves hands-on liturgical technology—specific actions (samprokṣaṇa), mudrā-usage, visualization, and fire-handling—showing the text’s coverage of practical ritual science alongside broader Purāṇic narrative and doctrine.
The sprinkling and mudrā establish ritual purity and correct ‘installation’ (saṃskāra) of Agni; meditative visualization aligns the performer’s intention with the deity, making the offering act efficacious and merit-bearing (puṇya) rather than merely physical fire-lighting.