Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 5
Chapter 164: नवग्रहहोमः
Navagraha Fire-Offering
गन्धाश् च वलयश् चैव धूपो देयस्तु गुग्गुलुः कर्तव्या मन्त्रयन्तश् च चरवः प्रतिदैवतं
gandhāś ca valayaś caiva dhūpo deyastu gugguluḥ kartavyā mantrayantaś ca caravaḥ pratidaivataṃ
Следует подносить благовония и также браслеты (валая); а в качестве курения — гуггулу (ароматическую смолу). Произнося надлежащие мантры, нужно приготовить и поднести ритуальные подношения (чару) отдельно для каждого божества.
Lord Agni (in discourse to the sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Upacāra and homa support: offering gandha, ornamental bands, guggulu incense, and preparing caru oblations per deity while chanting the proper mantras.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Upacāra and Caru-Homa per Devatā (Guggulu dhūpa)","lookup_keywords":["gandha","guggulu-dhūpa","caru","pratidaivatam","mantra-yukta-homa"],"quick_summary":"Standardizes offerings: perfumes, bracelets, guggulu incense, and deity-specific caru oblations performed with mantra recitation—useful for multi-deity rites like navagraha or devayajana."}
Concept: Mantra and dravya together complete worship; ‘pratidaivatam’ emphasizes specificity—each devatā receives its own properly dedicated oblation.
Application: Plan a homa with separate caru portions and mantras for each deity (e.g., each graha), ensuring correct upacāras and incense.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Deva-yajana, Homa and Upachara offerings)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A homa altar with fire blazing; priest offers caru with ladle, guggulu incense smoke rising; trays of perfumes and ornamental bands prepared; separate bowls labeled for each deity.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, homa-kunda with stylized flames, priest in profile chanting, thick curling incense smoke, offerings arranged symmetrically, warm reds and browns","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, luminous fire altar with gold highlights, priest holding ladle, ornate offering vessels, guggulu smoke rendered as decorative swirls, rich gold border","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic scene showing sequence: gandha, valaya, dhūpa (guggulu), then caru into fire; clean lines, labeled vessels, calm palette","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed yajña scene in a pavilion, attendants holding trays of perfumes and ornaments, incense brazier, fine textiles and architectural arches"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: gandhāś ca → gandhāḥ + ca; valayaś caiva → valayāḥ + ca + eva; deyastu → deyaḥ + tu; mantrayantaś ca → mantrayantaḥ + ca.
Related Themes: Agni Purana devayajana/homa-upacāra passages near 164.5 and subsequent mantra-prayoga (164.6)
FAQs
It specifies concrete upacāras in deity-worship—offering gandha (perfume), valaya (ornamental bands), and dhūpa using guggulu, and preparing caru oblations with mantra-recitation, separately for each deity.
It preserves procedural, item-by-item ritual technology (materials like guggulu and ritual foods like caru, plus the rule of deity-specific offerings), showing the Agni Purāṇa’s practical manual-like coverage alongside its theology.
Correctly offering prescribed upacāras with mantras and deity-specific intent is taught as a means of ritual purity, pleasing the deities, and accruing puṇya through disciplined, rule-based worship.