Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 7
Saṃskāra-kathana
Account of the Saṃskāras
अत्यग्निष्टोम उक्थश् च षोडशो वाजपेयकः अतिरात्राप्तोर्यामश् च सहस्रेशाः सवा इमे
atyagniṣṭoma ukthaś ca ṣoḍaśo vājapeyakaḥ atirātrāptoryāmaś ca sahasreśāḥ savā ime
இவை சோம யாகங்கள்—அத்யக்னிஷ்டோமம், உக்த்யம், ஷோடஷீ, வாஜபேயம், அதிராத்திரம், ஆப்தோர்யாமம், சஹஸ்ரேஷம்; இவையே சோமக் கர்மங்கள் எனக் கூறப்படுகின்றன.
Lord Agni (narrating the ritual taxonomy to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Classification and correct naming of Soma-sacrifices for selecting an appropriate yajña in śrauta practice and for ritual study.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Soma-yajña-bhedāḥ (Agniṣṭoma to Sahasra)","lookup_keywords":["Soma-sacrifice","Agniṣṭoma","Ukthya","Ṣoḍaśin","Āptoryāma"],"quick_summary":"Enumerates principal Soma-sacrifices used in śrauta ritual taxonomy; serves as a quick checklist for identifying the rite being discussed."}
Concept: Ritual classification (yajña-bheda) as a means to preserve Vedic order and correct performance.
Application: Use as a mnemonic list when studying śrauta texts or when mapping a ritual’s structure to its proper Soma category.
Khanda Section: Yajna-vidhi (Vedic Soma-sacrifices and ritual classifications)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A Vedic yajña-śālā with soma-pressing implements; priests indicating a scroll-like list of Soma-sacrifices (Agniṣṭoma, Ukthya, Ṣoḍaśin, Vājapeya, Atirātra, Āptoryāma, Sahasra).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, warm earthy palette, yajña-śālā interior, ṛtviks in white with sacred threads, soma-latā and pressing stones, stylized fire altar, inscription-like labels of Soma-yajñas, solemn devotional atmosphere","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold leaf highlights on yajña vessels and fire, central agni-kuṇḍa, priests holding ladles and soma cups, ornate borders, textual cartouche listing Soma-yajñas","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean linework, instructional diagram feel: labeled implements (soma-yantra, droṇa-kalaśa), priests pointing to a categorized list of Soma rites, muted pastel background","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed courtly yajña pavilion, fine textiles, attendants with soma vessels, calligraphic panel listing the Soma-sacrifices, precise architectural perspective"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"solemn","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अत्यग्निष्टोमः = अति + अग्निष्टोमः; उक्थश् च = उक्थः + च; अतिरात्राप्तोर्यामः = अतिरात्र + आप्तोर्यामः; सहस्रेशाः = सहस्र + ईशाः; सवा इमे = सवाः + इमे.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Yajña-vidhi sections on Soma rites and their aṅgas; Agni Purana: discussions of rājasūya/vājapeya/other śrauta rites in adjacent adhyāyas
FAQs
It enumerates major categories of Soma-yajñas (Soma-sacrifices), giving a ritual taxonomy used in Śrauta practice: Agniṣṭoma, Ukthya, Ṣoḍaśin, Vājapeya, Atirātra, and Āptoryāma, along with an extended ‘Sahasra’ type.
By cataloging specialized Śrauta sacrificial forms with their technical names, it preserves Vedic ritual classifications inside a Purāṇic compendium—illustrating how the Agni Purana functions as a reference work spanning dharma, ritual procedure, and liturgical terminology.
Recognizing and performing (or supporting) properly classified Soma-sacrifices is presented in the tradition as a purifier and merit-producing act (puṇya), aligning the sacrificer with Vedic order (ṛta) through correctly named and executed rites.