Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 52
Chapter 59 — अधिवासनकथनं
Adhivāsana: The Rite of Inviting and Stabilizing Hari’s Presence
पलाशसमिधानान्तु अष्टोत्तरसहस्रकं कुण्डे कुण्डे होमयेच्च व्रीहीन् वेदादिकैस् तथा
palāśasamidhānāntu aṣṭottarasahasrakaṃ kuṇḍe kuṇḍe homayecca vrīhīn vedādikais tathā
Dengan menggunakan kayu palāśa (Butea monosperma) sebagai kayu bakar upacara, hendaklah dipersembahkan oblation sebanyak seribu lapan (1008); dan pada setiap lubang api, hendaklah juga dipersembahkan butir-butir beras, disertai bacaan Veda serta rumusan ritual yang berkaitan.
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, the common dialogue frame of the Agni Purana)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Standardized homa offering-count and materials: palāśa samidh and 1008 oblations with rice in each kuṇḍa, accompanied by Vedic recitation.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Homa materials and count: Palāśa samidh and 1008 āhutis","lookup_keywords":["palasha samidh","1008 ahuti","vrihi homa","kunda kunda","vedic recitation"],"quick_summary":"Use palāśa fuel-sticks and complete 1008 offerings; additionally offer rice-grains in each fire-pit with Vedic mantras and allied formulas. This gives a repeatable template for a full homa cycle."}
Concept: Saṅkhyā-niyama (fixed sacred count) and dravya-niyama (authorized substances) as means to stabilize intention (saṅkalpa) and ritual outcome.
Application: For a complete homa, plan materials to meet 1008 āhutis; prepare palāśa samidh bundles and vrīhi portions per kuṇḍa; coordinate with continuous Vedic recitation.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Agni-hotra & Homa-vidhi / Vedic Fire Ritual Procedure)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Bundles of palāśa sticks stacked near a blazing kuṇḍa; a priest offers repeated āhutis with a ladle, while an assistant measures rice-grains for each pit; a tally-string or bead-count suggests 1008 offerings; Vedic chanters seated nearby.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, homa scene with palāśa samidh bundles, priest offering many āhutis, rice grains shown in a bowl, chanting ṛtviks seated, warm fire glow, stylized repetition motifs to imply 1008","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, ornate homa setup with gold-highlighted flames, palāśa sticks and rice bowls, priest with ladle mid-offering, rich reds and greens, embossed gold for vessels and fire aura","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, semi-diagrammatic clarity: labeled-looking palāśa bundles, rice bowl, multiple kuṇḍas in a row, priest counting offerings with beads, delicate shading and fine outlines","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed still-life of ritual materials (palāśa sticks, rice, ladles), multiple fire-pits, scribal tally of 1008, attendants and chanters, intricate borders and textiles"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: समिधानान्तु = समिधानान् + तु; अष्टोत्तरसहस्रकं = अष्टोत्तर + सहस्रकम्; होमयेच्च = होमयेत् + च; वेदादिकैस् = वेदादिकैः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 59 (homa-dravya and prayoga details)
FAQs
It specifies homa procedure: use palāśa fuel-sticks, perform 1008 oblations, and offer rice-grains in each kuṇḍa while reciting Vedic and auxiliary ritual formulas.
It preserves operational ritual details—materials (palāśa samidh), counts (1008), and performance method across multiple kuṇḍas—showing the text’s role as a practical manual alongside its mythic and doctrinal content.
By prescribing correct substances, mantra-accompanied offerings, and a sacred count (1008), the verse frames the rite as a disciplined act of purification and merit (puṇya) through properly executed fire-sacrifice.