Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 4
Utpāta-śānti
Pacification of Portents
पद्मानि चाथ विल्वानि हुत्वाज्यं वा तिलान् श्रियः एकन्तु पौरुषं सूक्तं प्रतिवेदन्तु सर्वदं
padmāni cātha vilvāni hutvājyaṃ vā tilān śriyaḥ ekantu pauruṣaṃ sūktaṃ prativedantu sarvadaṃ
पद्मानि विल्वानि च हुत्वा, आज्यं वा तिलान् वा श्रियै जुह्यात्। विशेषतः पौरुषं सूक्तं जपेत्; प्रतिवेदं तु सर्वदं सर्वदा कथ्यते।
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha in ritual procedure)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Specifies offerings (lotus, bilva, ghee, sesame) for Śrī-oriented homa/pujā and recommends Pauruṣa Sūkta with prativeda as a universally efficacious recitation.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Śrī-upāsanā offerings and Pauruṣa-sūkta prativeda","lookup_keywords":["padma offering","bilva leaves","tilahoma","Pauruṣa Sūkta","prativeda"],"quick_summary":"For prosperity rites, offer lotus/bilva or oblate ghee/sesame, and especially recite the Pauruṣa Sūkta with supplementary recitation, presented as an all-purpose bestower of results."}
Alamkara Type: Arthāntaranyāsa (assertive commendation: ‘sarvadaṃ’—bestower of all)
Concept: Material upacāra + Vedic hymn recitation as a complete upāsanā; Puruṣa-sūkta functions as a comprehensive integrator of aims (sarva-phala).
Application: In prosperity worship, standardize offerings (padma/bilva or ghee/tila) and anchor the rite with Puruṣa-sūkta recitation as a general-purpose śānti/puṣṭi hymn.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Lakshmi/Śrī-upāsanā and Homa offerings)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A prosperity pūjā/homa arrangement: lotuses and bilva leaves placed before a fire altar; ghee and sesame ready for oblation; the Puruṣa Sūkta text is recited as the central hymn.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, altar with padma flowers and bilva leaves, stylized flames, priest chanting Puruṣa Sūkta, warm earthy palette with gold-ochre highlights","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, lavish lotus offerings, bilva leaves, gold-leaf detailing on vessels and haloed deity-symbol of Puruṣa/Nārāyaṇa, rich ornamental frame","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean instructional still-life of offerings (padma, bilva, ghee, tila) labeled visually, priest reciting from manuscript, balanced composition","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined ritual tableau with detailed flora (lotus) and leaves, delicate utensils, calligraphic strip ‘Pauruṣa Sūkta’, intimate courtly-patron setting"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Madhyamavati","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: cātha ← ca + atha; hutvājyaṃ ← hutvā + ājyam; prativedantu ← prativedam + tu.
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa 262.3 (Śrīsūkta japa-homa); Agni Purāṇa ritual sections on homa-dravya and pūjā-upacāra elsewhere
FAQs
It prescribes specific homa/pujā offerings—lotus, bilva, ghee, or sesame—aimed at Śrī (prosperity) and emphasizes recitation of the Pauruṣa Sūkta as the key mantra-practice.
It exemplifies the Agni Purana’s practical ritual handbook style: it links concrete dravya (ritual substances) with a Vedic sūkta (mantra-source) to produce a targeted result (śrī), showing how the text integrates Vedic hymnody into later Purāṇic worship procedures.
Offering pure substances into fire and reciting a Vedic hymn is presented as a merit-producing act that aligns the worshipper with cosmic order (Puruṣa), thereby attracting Śrī—ongoing prosperity and auspiciousness.