Agni Purana — Kosha, Shloka 23
Chapter 360 — अव्ययवर्गाः
Groups of Indeclinables
अतर्किते तु सहसा स्यात् पुरः पुरतो ऽग्रतः स्वाहा देवहविर्दाने श्रौषट् वौषट् वषट् स्वधा
atarkite tu sahasā syāt puraḥ purato 'grataḥ svāhā devahavirdāne śrauṣaṭ vauṣaṭ vaṣaṭ svadhā
எதிர்பாராத திடீர் சூழலில் உடனே ‘புரஃ’, ‘புரதஃ’, ‘அக்ரதஃ’—அதாவது ‘முன்னால்/முன்பு’—என்று கூறுவர். தேவர்களுக்கு ஹவிச் சமர்ப்பணத்தில் ‘ஸ்வாஹா’; யாக உச்சரிப்புகள் ‘ஶ்ரௌஷட்’, ‘வௌஷட்’, ‘வஷட்’; பித்ரு அர்ப்பணத்தில் ‘ஸ்வதா’ என்று கூறுவர்.
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha in ritual usage)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Using correct ritual exclamations (svāhā/svadhā and vaṣaṭ-forms) and directional immediacy terms in yajña/pujā contexts; avoiding prayoga-errors in offerings to devas vs pitṛs.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Yajña-exclamations: svāhā, vaṣaṭ-forms, svadhā; and sudden-immediacy terms","lookup_keywords":["svāhā","svadhā","vaṣaṭ","vauṣaṭ","śrauṣaṭ"],"quick_summary":"Distinguishes utterances for deva-havis (svāhā; śrauṣaṭ/vauṣaṭ/vaṣaṭ) versus pitṛ-offerings (svadhā) and notes prompt directional terms (puraḥ/purataḥ/agrataḥ) for sudden situations."}
Concept: Right utterance (śabda) and right addressee (devatā/pitṛ) are integral to karmakāṇḍa efficacy.
Application: In homa/arcana, use svāhā for deva-offerings and svadhā for pitṛ-offerings; keep vaṣaṭ-forms correct to the rite’s śrauta/ smārta convention.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Mantra-prayoga and Yajña terminology)
Primary Rasa: samanya
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A homa scene: priest offers ghee into a blazing fire while chanting ‘svāhā’; a separate vignette shows pitṛ-offering with ‘svadhā’; directional words ‘puraḥ/purataḥ/agrataḥ’ appear as quick-response cues.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style yajña scene with homa-kuṇḍa, priest in white, flames stylized, script ribbon ‘स्वाहा’ above the fire; adjacent pitṛ-tarpaṇa scene with ‘स्वधा’, warm ochres and greens.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting of a homa altar with ornate gold detailing, priest pouring ghee, bold ‘स्वाहा’ in a decorative cartouche, rich gold leaf on flames and vessels; secondary panel for ‘स्वधा’.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting instructional diptych: left ‘Deva-havis: svāhā/vaṣaṭ’, right ‘Pitṛ: svadhā’, labeled implements (sruk, ājya, kuṇḍa), clean didactic layout.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature of a courtly yajña with detailed fire altar, attendants, fine calligraphy panels reading ‘svāhā’ and ‘svadhā’, intricate borders and textiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पुरतो ऽग्रतः = पुरतः + अग्रतः (ऽ = avagraha).
Related Themes: Agni Purana ritual/pujā-vidhi sections on homa, bali, and śrāddha terminology
FAQs
It distinguishes the correct liturgical utterances: “svāhā” for deva-offerings, “svadhā” for pitṛ-offerings, and the śrauta exclamations “vaṣaṭ/vauṣaṭ/śrauṣaṭ” used at the moment of oblation.
By cataloging precise ritual vocabulary and its proper application, it functions like a compact manual of practice—one of the many technical domains (mantra-prayoga, yajña procedure, liturgical conventions) the Agni Purana preserves alongside other sciences.
Using the correct dedicatory calls aligns the offering with its intended recipient (devas or ancestors), supporting ritual accuracy (śuddhi) and ensuring the act bears its proper religious merit (puṇya).