Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 16
Chapter 39 — भूपरिग्रहविधानम्
Bhū-parigraha-vidhāna: Procedure for Acquiring and Ritually Securing Land
प्राकारसीमापर्यन्तं ततो भुतबलिं हरेत् माषं हरिद्राचूर्णन्तु सलाजं दधिसक्तुभिः
prākārasīmāparyantaṃ tato bhutabaliṃ haret māṣaṃ haridrācūrṇantu salājaṃ dadhisaktubhiḥ
प्राकारसीमापर्यन्तं ततः भूतबलिं हरेत्। माषं हरिद्राचूर्णं च, सलाजं दधिसक्तुभिः सह॥
Lord Agni
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Perform bhūta-bali offerings along the enclosure boundary to pacify/propitiate elemental beings and protect the ritual/building space.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Bhūta-bali at prākāra-sīmā with māṣa, haridrā, lāja, dadhi and saktu","lookup_keywords":["bhūta-bali","prākāra-sīmā","māṣa","haridrā","lāja"],"quick_summary":"Carry offerings up to the compound boundary to appease bhūtas: black gram, turmeric powder, parched rice, curds, and saktu—serving as protective, harmonizing ritual food."}
Concept: Ritual ecology: acknowledging and harmonizing with bhūtas/elemental presences to remove obstacles (vighna) and stabilize sacred space.
Application: Before/around consecration or major rites, perform perimeter offerings with specified items to create a protective, pacified boundary.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Bhuta-bali and protective offerings within ritual boundaries)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Sacred-boundary
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A priest walks along the inner edge of a compound wall carrying a tray of offerings—black gram, turmeric powder, parched rice, curds, and saktu—placing small portions at intervals to pacify bhūtas and seal the perimeter.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, priest in white with ritual tray, prākāra wall curving behind, small offering spots along the boundary, turmeric yellow prominent, lamps and protective motifs, subdued sacred ambience","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold accents on offering vessels and lamps, priest offering at the boundary, bright turmeric and white curds depicted richly, temple wall and gateway, ornate gilded border","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, step-by-step instructional scene: perimeter path, labeled ingredients (māṣa, haridrā, lāja, dadhi, saktu), priest placing offerings at marked points, clean composition","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtyard with enclosing wall, priest and attendants carrying bowls, small heaps of offerings placed along the wall, delicate architectural detailing, soft pastel palette"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Punnagavarali","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: हरिद्राचूर्णन्तु → हरिद्राचूर्णम् तु; भुतबलिं → भूतबलिम् (spelling normalization); दधिसक्तुभिः treated as द्वन्द्व compound.
Related Themes: Agni Purana ritual sections on bali, rakṣā, and prākāra-related rites; Agni Purana 39 context: post-site preparation protective procedures
FAQs
It prescribes the procedure for bhūta-bali—carrying offerings up to the enclosure boundary and using specific items (black gram, turmeric powder, parched rice, curds, and saktu) as the bali-materials.
By detailing practical, itemized ritual materials and spatial rules (offering up to the prākāra-sīmā), it exemplifies the Agni Purana’s manual-like coverage of temple/household worship techniques alongside broader theology.
Bhūta-bali is a pacificatory and protective act: it harmonizes the ritual space by satisfying peripheral beings and mitigating disturbances, supporting purity, safety, and the successful completion of worship.