Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 23
Māheśvara-snāna: Lakṣa/Koṭi-homa, Protective Baths, Unguents, and Graha-Śānti
चतुरस्रकरे कुण्डे ब्राह्मणाश्चाष्ट शोडश लक्षहोमङ्कोटिहोमन्तिलाज्ययवधान्यकैः
caturasrakare kuṇḍe brāhmaṇāścāṣṭa śoḍaśa lakṣahomaṅkoṭihomantilājyayavadhānyakaiḥ
चतुरस्र (चौकोनी) कुंडात आठ किंवा सोळा ब्राह्मणांनी तीळ, तूप, जव व धान्य इत्यादींनी लक्षहोम किंवा कोटिहोम इतक्या आहुती द्याव्यात.
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s dialogic frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Homa logistics: specifying kuṇḍa shape (square), officiant count (8/16 brāhmaṇas), scale of oblations (lakṣa/koṭi), and standard havis materials (tila, ājya, yava, dhānya).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Agnihotra/Homa: Caturasra-kuṇḍa, Ṛtvij count, and Lakṣa/Koṭi-homa with Tila-Ājya-Yava","lookup_keywords":["caturasra-kuṇḍa","lakṣa-homa","koṭi-homa","tila-ājya-yava","brāhmaṇa-ṛtvij"],"quick_summary":"A square fire-pit is prescribed, with 8 or 16 brāhmaṇas officiating; oblations may be performed at large scale (100,000 to 10,000,000) using sesame, ghee, barley, and grains."}
Concept: Yajña as regulated action: correct form (kuṇḍa), qualified agents (brāhmaṇas), and proper dravya/saṅkhyā produce intended śānti/phala.
Application: When commissioning a homa, plan geometry, priest team size, and offering inventory proportional to the intended count (lakṣa/koṭi) to maintain ritual integrity.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Agni-hotra & Homa-vidhi (Vedic fire-ritual procedure)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A square homa-kuṇḍa with blazing fire; eight or sixteen brāhmaṇas seated around, offering sesame, ghee, barley, and grains in a large-count homa.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, square fire altar at center, ring of priests in white, stylized flames, offering ladles, bowls of tila and yava, rhythmic temple-hall backdrop","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central square kuṇḍa with gold-highlighted flames, priests symmetrically arranged, ornate ritual vessels with gold accents, rich maroons and greens","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, diagrammatic clarity: square kuṇḍa proportions, placement of priests (8/16), labeled offering bowls (tila, ājya, yava, dhānya), fine linework","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed yajña scene in a pavilion, square fire pit, priests chanting, attendants bringing trays of grains and ghee, intricate textiles and architecture"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ब्राह्मणाश्च = ब्राह्मणाः + च; चाष्ट = च + अष्ट। समास-समुच्चयः: लक्षहोमम् + कोटिहोमम् + तिलाज्ययवधान्यकैः।
Related Themes: Agni Purana homa/śānti sections around 266 (kuṇḍa, dravya, saṅkhyā prescriptions)
FAQs
It specifies homa-vidhi parameters: the square (caturasra) kuṇḍa, the officiating priest-count (8 or 16 Brāhmaṇas), the prescribed scale of oblations (lakṣa or koṭi), and standard offering substances (tila, ājya, yava, dhānya).
It functions like a ritual manual entry—combining altar geometry, staffing norms, quantitative targets for oblations, and approved dravya (offering materials), illustrating the Agni Purāṇa’s practical coverage of yajña/homa technology alongside its many other disciplines.
By prescribing correct altar form, qualified officiants, and properly counted oblations with pure substances, the verse emphasizes ritual precision as a means to secure merit (puṇya), purification, and effective fruition (siddhi) of the homa.