Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 16
Chapter 68 — यात्रोत्सवविधिकथनं
Account of the Procedure for the Processional Festival / Yātrā-Utsava Vidhi
चरुं वै श्रपयेत् तत्र पायसं होमयेत्ततः अब्लिङ्गैः वैदिकैर् मन्त्रैस्तीर्थानावाहयेत्ततः
caruṃ vai śrapayet tatra pāyasaṃ homayettataḥ abliṅgaiḥ vaidikair mantraistīrthānāvāhayettataḥ
Di situ hendaklah dimasak caru, bubur nasi upacara; kemudian persembahkan pāyasa, nasi susu, ke dalam api sebagai homa. Sesudah itu, dengan mantra-mantra Veda yang disebut ‘abliṅga’ (tidak terikat pada tanda atau dewa-sektarian tertentu), hendaklah diundang segala tīrtha suci ke dalam upacara.
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purana’s primary dialogic frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Perform cooking of caru, offer pāyasa into homa fire, then invoke tīrthas using Vedic ‘abliṅga’ mantras suitable for non-sectarian, broadly applicable sanctification.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Caru-pāyasa homa and tīrtha-āvāhana with abliṅga Vedic mantras","lookup_keywords":["caru","pāyasa","homa","abliṅga mantra","tīrtha-āvāhana"],"quick_summary":"Prepare caru, perform pāyasa oblations, and then invoke sacred tīrthas into the rite using universally applicable Vedic mantras not limited by a specific deity-mark."}
Concept: Yajña as a means of sanctification: through oblation and mantra, sacred presence is invoked and localized.
Application: In multi-sect settings, select broadly Vedic, non-sectarian mantras for āvāhana to maintain inclusivity and ritual validity.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Homa and Tirtha-Avahana Ritual Procedures)
Primary Rasa: Adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: Shanta
Type: Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A homa altar with blazing fire; priest cooks caru in a pot nearby, then offers spoonfuls of pāyasa into the flames; afterward he recites Vedic mantras to invoke tīrthas, visualized as streams of sacred water-light converging into the ritual space.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, homa-kuṇḍa with stylized flames, priest with ladle offering pāyasa, cooking pot for caru, luminous wave-like motifs representing invoked tīrthas entering the altar area, traditional color blocks","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central homa fire with gold radiance, priest in ritual posture offering pāyasa, vessels for caru and pāyasa richly ornamented, gold leaf glow around mantra recitation and sacred-water motifs","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional depiction: pot labeled caru, bowl labeled pāyasa, sequence of offering into fire, then āvāhana gesture; clean lines, soft colors, clear ritual implements","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed yajña scene with fire altar, priest and assistants, ornate vessels, delicate smoke trails forming river-like patterns symbolizing tīrthas, fine architectural backdrop"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: homayet tataḥ: homayet + tataḥ (t doubling in text). mantrais tīrthān: mantraiḥ + tīrthān (ḥ→s before t). tīrthān āvāhayet: tīrthān + āvāhayet (n + ā → nā).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 68 (homa items, abhiṣeka/utsava adjuncts, tīrtha-āvāhana context)
FAQs
It prescribes a homa sequence: cook caru, offer pāyasa as oblations, then perform tīrtha-āvāhana (invocation of sacred tīrthas) using generally applicable Vedic mantras.
It functions like a compact ritual manual—detailing materials (caru, pāyasa), the action (homa), and the mantra-application principle (abliṅga/unspecific)—showing the text’s practical, procedural coverage beyond mythology.
By correctly performing homa with sanctioned offerings and invoking tīrthas, the rite is treated as sanctified by the presence/merit of holy places, supporting purification and the accrual of ritual merit (puṇya).