Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 43
Chapter 72 — स्नानविशेषादिकथनम्
Special Rules of Bathing, Mantra-Purification, and Sandhyā
प्रचेतसे मनुष्यांश् च सनकाय वषट् तथा हां सनन्दाय वषट् सनातनाय वै वषट्
pracetase manuṣyāṃś ca sanakāya vaṣaṭ tathā hāṃ sanandāya vaṣaṭ sanātanāya vai vaṣaṭ
“Kepada Pracetas dan kepada umat manusia—vaṣaṭ. Demikian juga kepada Sanaka—vaṣaṭ; ‘hāṃ’ kepada Sanandana—vaṣaṭ; dan sesungguhnya kepada Sanātana—vaṣaṭ.”
Lord Agni (narrating ritual procedure to Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s instructional frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Homa oblation calls (vaṣaṭ) directed to Pracetas, mankind, and the Kumāra sages (Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanātana), integrating cosmic/ancestral recipients into the offering sequence.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Vaṣaṭ-offerings to Pracetas, Manuṣya, and Kumāras (Sanaka–Sanandana–Sanātana) with ‘hāṃ’ insertion","lookup_keywords":["vaṣaṭ","Pracetas","Sanaka","Sanandana","Sanātana"],"quick_summary":"Use vaṣaṭ to consign offerings to specified recipients; this verse gives a recipient-list including Pracetas, humanity, and the Kumāras, with ‘hāṃ’ as an oblation-formula element for Sanandana."}
Concept: Yajña as a connective act: offerings can be intentionally addressed to cosmic beings, sages, and even ‘mankind’ as a collective recipient, widening the ritual’s ethical horizon.
Application: During homa, mentally visualize each recipient while uttering vaṣaṭ to stabilize saṅkalpa and ensure correct ‘addressing’ (uddeśa) of the offering.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Mantra-prayoga (Homa and oblation formulae)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A homa scene where the priest offers ghee while intoning vaṣaṭ; ethereal figures appear in the smoke: Pracetas as ancient luminous beings, a symbolic crowd representing mankind, and youthful ascetic Kumāras (Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanātana) with serene faces.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, homa fire central, smoke forming three zones: Pracetas as radiant sages, mankind as stylized silhouettes, Kumāras as youthful ascetics with jaṭā and halos, bold outlines and warm palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-embossed flames, Kumāras with bright gold halos, Pracetas in a luminous cloud, decorative gold script ‘vaṣaṭ’ motif, rich jewel tones","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional homa posture with ladle and fire, labeled recipients in small vignettes above the flame (Pracetas, Manuṣya, Sanaka/Sanandana/Sanātana), clean composition","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, indoor yajña setting, delicate smoke-forms revealing recipients, fine detailing of youthful sages, calligraphic ‘vaṣaṭ’ in border panels"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: manuṣyāṃś ca = manuṣyān + ca (n → ṃś before c, anusvāra/śchutva orthography).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 72 (homa recipient lists; Kumāra-related invocations)
FAQs
It gives a sequence of homa-invocations: specific recipients (Pracetas, mankind, and the Kumāra sages) are offered oblations with the liturgical exclamation “vaṣaṭ,” including the use of the syllable “hāṃ” as a mantra element before offering to Sanandana.
Beyond mythology, the Agni Purāṇa preserves practical ritual technology—stepwise mantra lists and offering calls (vaṣaṭ)—functioning like a handbook for priests and householders performing Vedic-Paurāṇic fire rites.
By directing oblations to revered sages and to “mankind,” the rite expands merit (puṇya) through honoring seers and cultivating universal welfare intentions, while the vaṣaṭ-offering is treated as a purifying, consecratory act within the fire ritual.