Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 37
Chapter 24 — कुण्डनिर्माणादिविधिः
Procedure for Constructing the Fire-pit and Related Rites
विष्णोर्वह्निन्तु संस्कृत्य श्रपयेद्वैष्णवञ्चरुम् आराध्य स्थिण्डिले विष्णुं मन्त्रान् संस्मृत्य संश्रपेत्
viṣṇorvahnintu saṃskṛtya śrapayedvaiṣṇavañcarum ārādhya sthiṇḍile viṣṇuṃ mantrān saṃsmṛtya saṃśrapet
ବିଷ୍ଣୁଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ଅଗ୍ନିକୁ ସଂସ୍କୃତ କରି ବୈଷ୍ଣବ ଚରୁ (ଯଜ୍ଞୀୟ ଅନ୍ନ-ଖୀର) ରାନ୍ଧିବ। ସ୍ଥିଣ୍ଡିଲ (ବେଦୀ/ମଣ୍ଡଳ) ଉପରେ ବିଷ୍ଣୁଙ୍କୁ ଆରାଧନା କରି, ନିର୍ଦ୍ଦିଷ୍ଟ ମନ୍ତ୍ର ସ୍ମରଣ କରି ଯଥାବିଧି ତାହା ସମ୍ପନ୍ନ କରିବ।
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Stotra","practical_application":"Procedure for Vaiṣṇava homa: consecrating fire for Viṣṇu, preparing caru, worship on sthiṇḍila, and mantra recollection—usable in household/temple rites for Viṣṇu-centered offerings.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Vaiṣṇava-homa: Viṣṇu-agni-saṃskāra and Caru-pāka on Sthiṇḍila","lookup_keywords":["vaiṣṇava homa","caru","sthiṇḍila","viṣṇu-agni saṃskāra","mantra-smṛti"],"quick_summary":"Explains how to consecrate the fire as Viṣṇu’s, cook the sacrificial caru, worship Viṣṇu on the altar, and proceed by remembered mantras. Integrates offering-cookery with deity-specific homa protocol."}
Concept: Deity-specific saṃskāra of the ritual medium (fire) and mindful mantra-smṛti transform ordinary cooking into yajña-offering.
Application: Before offering, explicitly dedicate the fire and food to Viṣṇu; maintain mantra continuity during preparation to preserve ritual identity of the caru.
Khanda Section: Pūjā-vidhi (Vaiṣṇava-homa and offering procedure)
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A Vaiṣṇava homa setting: fire altar consecrated to Viṣṇu, a pot of rice-porridge (caru) cooking, Viṣṇu worshiped on a marked sthiṇḍila/mandala, priest recalling mantras while tending the offering.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Viṣṇu presence suggested by conch-disc symbols on the sthiṇḍila, bright sacred fire, priest stirring caru pot, stylized lotus mandala, deep greens and reds, temple-lamp ambience.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, Viṣṇu as central deity with gold halo, foreground homa-kuṇḍa and caru vessel with gold highlights, sthiṇḍila drawn as ornate mandala, rich jewel tones.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean instructional depiction of steps: consecrating fire, cooking caru, worship at sthiṇḍila with mantra text strip, precise utensils and altar geometry.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed kitchen-ritual fusion: copper vessels, simmering caru, priest at altar with mandala, attendants, architectural courtyard, subtle Vaiṣṇava emblems."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: विष्णोर्वह्निन्तु = विष्णोः + वह्निम् + तु; श्रपयेद्वैष्णवञ्चरुम् = श्रपयेत् + वैष्णवम् + चरुम्; मन्त्रान् संस्मृत्य = मन्त्रान् + संस्मृत्य.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Vaiṣṇava pūjā-vidhi; Homa-vidhi; descriptions of sthiṇḍila/maṇḍala preparation
FAQs
It teaches the operational sequence of a Vaiṣṇava homa: consecrate the sacrificial fire for Viṣṇu, cook the caru as the oblation, worship Viṣṇu on the sthiṇḍila (altar), and proceed while reciting/remembering the prescribed mantras.
Alongside theology and myth, the Agni Purana preserves practical ritual technology—step-by-step instructions for fire offerings, altar use (sthiṇḍila), and mantra-governed preparation of offerings—functioning as a procedural manual within a broader compendium.
By consecrating the fire, worshiping Viṣṇu, and preparing the offering with mantra-awareness, the act becomes a properly sanctified yajña—aimed at purification, devotional merit (puṇya), and focused Viṣṇu-upāsanā rather than mere cooking.