Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 5
Chapter 40 — भूपरिग्रहो नाम
Bhū-parigraha) / अर्घ्यदानविधानम् (Arghya-dāna-vidhāna
स्रुचा चार्धपदे वह्निं पूषाणं लाजयैकतः स्वर्णेन वितथं द्विष्ठं मथनेन गृहाक्षतं
srucā cārdhapade vahniṃ pūṣāṇaṃ lājayaikataḥ svarṇena vitathaṃ dviṣṭhaṃ mathanena gṛhākṣataṃ
Com a concha ritual (sruc), no meio pada deve-se colocar/oferecer Vahni (Agni). Pūṣan deve ser disposto juntamente com lāja (grãos tostados). Com ouro (svarṇa) neutraliza-se o que é falso ou defeituoso (vitatha); com o bastão de fricção (mathana) afasta-se a inimizade (dviṣṭa); e com o arroz da casa (gṛhākṣata) completa-se o estabelecimento do rito.
Lord Agni (in dialogue to sage Vasiṣṭha, the typical Agni Purana frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Vastu","practical_application":"Prescribes specific ritual implements/substances (sruc, lāja, gold, mathana, household rice) and their intended apotropaic or corrective functions within homa/pratiṣṭhā rites.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Homa/pratiṣṭhā dravya-viniyoga: Agni, Pūṣan, and corrective substances","lookup_keywords":["sruc ladle","Agni ardha-pada","Pūṣan lāja","svarṇa vitatha","mathana dviṣṭa"],"quick_summary":"Offer/place Agni using the ladle in the half-pada; associate Pūṣan with parched grain; use gold to rectify defect/untruth (vitatha), the churning-stick to avert hostility, and household akṣata as a stabilizing ritual grain."}
Concept: Material substances carry specific ritual ‘functions’ (viniyoga): some invoke deities (Agni, Pūṣan), others neutralize faults (vitatha) and enmity (dviṣṭa).
Application: In homa/pratiṣṭhā, keep implements ready and assign them intentionally: ladle for Agni offering, lāja for Pūṣan, gold as doṣa-prāyaścitta for defects, mathana as śānti against hostility, and household akṣata for auspicious stabilization.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Homa & Havir-dravya / oblation materials and placements)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A homa altar with a priest holding a sruc ladle offering into fire at a marked half-pada; Pūṣan honored with lāja; gold, a churning-stick, and household akṣata displayed as corrective/protective ritual substances.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, homa fire glowing, priest with sruc, labeled half-pada marking, Pūṣan symbol with lāja offering, gold and mathana placed on ritual cloth, akṣata bowl, traditional temple palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, brilliant fire altar with gold leaf highlights, priest offering with sruc, Pūṣan represented with radiant motif and lāja, gold coin/ornament emphasized, ornate vessels for akṣata","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional still-life composition: sruc, lāja, gold, mathana, gṛhākṣata arranged with captions; background shows altar grid and half-pada marking; fine lines and clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly ritual pavilion, detailed implements and textures, priest offering into fire with ladle, attendants holding bowls of lāja and akṣata, gold object and churning-stick prominently rendered"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चार्धपदे→च अर्ध-पदे; लाजयैकतः→लाजया एकतः; गृहाक्षतं→गृह-अक्षतम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: homa-dravya lists; pratiṣṭhā doṣa-śānti and prāyaścitta passages; vāstu-ardha-pada placement rules
FAQs
It specifies ritual substances (sruc, lāja, gold, mathana, akṣata) and their prescribed placement/association with deities (Agni, Pūṣan) for a homa-style procedure, including apotropaic aims like correcting defects and warding off hostility.
It preserves a compact ritual-technical mapping of materials, deities, and intended effects—showing the text’s catalog-like coverage of practical liturgy alongside theology, which is characteristic of the Agni Purana’s broad, handbook style.
By correctly offering and placing sanctioned substances, the rite is said to remove ritual faults (vitatha), neutralize inimical influences (dviṣṭa), and stabilize auspiciousness—supporting purity, protection, and merit through properly performed worship.