Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 20
Chapter 64 — कूपादिप्रतिष्ठाकथनं
The Account of the Consecration of Wells and Other Water-Works
वेदादिमन्त्रैर् गन्धाद्याश् चतस्रो धेनवो दुहेत् दिक्ष्वथो वै यवचरुं ततः संस्थाप्य होमयेत्
vedādimantrair gandhādyāś catasro dhenavo duhet dikṣvatho vai yavacaruṃ tataḥ saṃsthāpya homayet
Dengan mantra-mantra pembukaan Veda, hendaklah “memerah/mengekstrak” empat persembahan dhenu, bermula dengan bahan-bahan harum. Kemudian pada segala arah, hendaklah didirikan yava-caru (persembahan masakan barli); setelah ditegakkan, lakukanlah homa (korban api).
Lord Agni (in instruction to Sage Vasiṣṭha, standard Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Preparation and directional placement of four ‘dhenu’ offerings (cow-form upacāras) with gandha etc., followed by establishing a yava-caru and performing homa using Vedic opening mantras.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Catur-dhenu Upacāra and Yava-caru Homa (with Veda-ādi mantras)","lookup_keywords":["veda-adi-mantra","catasro-dhenavah","gandha-adi","yava-caru","dik-homa"],"quick_summary":"Using introductory Vedic mantras, prepare four dhenu-offerings beginning with fragrant substances, place/offer them in the directions, establish a barley caru, then perform homa."}
Concept: Directional harmonization: offerings mapped to dik-devatās; food-offering (caru) as a stabilizing sacrificial medium.
Application: Guides homa practitioners to structure offerings: mantra-opening, preparation of dravya sets, dik-nyāsa/placement, then main homa.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Agni-hotra / Homa-vidhi and ancillary offerings)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Priests prepare four cow-form offerings (dhenu) with fragrant substances, arrange them toward the four directions, then set a vessel of barley caru near the fire and begin homa recitation.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, four directional stations around a central homa fire, trays of gandha and offerings shaped/symbolized as dhenu, priest chanting Vedic openings, subdued temple interior lighting","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, central homa-kuṇḍa with gold flame accents, four directional offering stands, ornate vessel of yava-caru, rich decorative borders and arch","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional layout diagram feel: compass-like directional markers, four dhenu offerings labeled, barley caru pot near kuṇḍa, priest with ladle beginning homa","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, top-down pavilion scene with precise geometry, four corners holding offerings, central fire, attendants carrying perfume bowls and a caru vessel, fine textile patterns"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वेदादिमन्त्रैर् → वेदादिमन्त्रैः; गन्धाद्याश् → गन्धाद्याः; दिक्ष्वथो → दिक्षु + अथ + उ; होमयेत् = हु धातोः णिच् (causative) + विधिलिङ्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana homa-dravya lists; dik-devatā invocation sequences; caru preparation rules (same puja-vidhi corpus)
FAQs
It gives a practical homa sequence: recite Vedic initial mantras, prepare a fourfold offering-series (likened to ‘milking’ cows, starting with fragrant substances), place offerings in the quarters, and establish a barley caru to be offered into the fire.
Alongside theology and mythology, the Agni Purana preserves procedural ritual know-how—precise materials (gandha, yava), offering types (caru), and spatial ritual logic (dikṣu)—showing its role as a compendium of applied religious practice.
By combining mantra, correctly prepared oblations, and directionally ordered offerings, the rite is framed as a purificatory act that harmonizes the sacrificer with cosmic order (ṛta) and accrues ritual merit through properly executed homa.