Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 12
Chapter 305 — Narasiṃha and Related Mantras (नारसिंहादिमन्त्राः)
आज्यापामार्गसमिधो ह्य् अक्षतं तिलसर्षपौ पायसं गव्यमाज्यञ्च सहस्राष्टकसंख्यया
ājyāpāmārgasamidho hy akṣataṃ tilasarṣapau pāyasaṃ gavyamājyañca sahasrāṣṭakasaṃkhyayā
நெய், அபாமார்க சமித்து, அக்ஷதம், எள் மற்றும் கடுகு, பாயசம், மேலும் பசு-நெய்—இவை அனைத்தும் ஸஹஸ்ராஷ்டக (1008) எண்ணிக்கையில் அர்ப்பணிக்க/பயன்படுத்த வேண்டும்।
Lord Agni (instructor-narrator of ritual procedure, addressing the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Selection of homa-dravyas and fixing the japa/homa count (1008) for a standardized pūjā-vidhi.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Homa-dravya list and 1008 count (sahasrāṣṭaka)","lookup_keywords":["homa-dravya","sahasrāṣṭaka","apāmārga-samidha","akṣata","pāyasa"],"quick_summary":"Specifies the standard substances for offering—ghee, apāmārga fuel, akṣata, sesame, mustard, and pāyasa—performed in the fixed count of 1008 for ritual efficacy."}
Concept: Saṅkhyā-niyama (fixed sacred count) and dravya-śuddhi (purifying substances) as supports for mantra-siddhi.
Application: Maintain exact counts (1008) and prescribed materials to avoid doṣa in homa and to stabilize the rite’s intended result.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Homa-dravya & Japa-sankhya / ritual materials and counts)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A homa-kuṇḍa beside a neatly arranged set of offerings: ghee ladle, apāmārga sticks, bowls of akṣata, sesame, mustard, and a pot of pāyasa; a counter-string or tally indicating 1008 offerings.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, warm earthy palette, priest seated by homa-kuṇḍa, neatly depicted dravya bowls (akṣata, tila, sarṣapa, pāyasa), apāmārga samidh stacked, sacred fire glowing, stylized ornaments, flat perspective.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, rich reds and greens, gold-leaf highlights on vessels and ladle, homa fire central, offerings arranged symmetrically, ornate borders, devotional ritual still-life composition.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, fine linework, instructional layout showing labeled dravyas around the fire altar, priest performing āhuti with ghee, subtle shading, clean composition.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed textiles and utensils, close-up of ritual paraphernalia, precise rendering of grains and seeds, priest and assistant counting offerings, architectural interior of a yajña-śālā."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shuddha Saveri","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ājyāpāmārgasamidho = ājya-apāmārga-samidh-aḥ; hy = hi; gavyamājyañca = gavyam ājyaṃ ca; sahasrāṣṭakasaṃkhyayā = sahasra-aṣṭaka-saṃkhyayā.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 305 (Pūjā-vidhi: homa-dravya, japa-saṅkhyā sections)
FAQs
It specifies standard homa offerings—ghee, apāmārga fuel, akṣata, sesame, mustard, and pāyasa—and prescribes the ritual count of 1008 (sahasrāṣṭaka) for oblations/recitations.
By cataloging precise ritual substances (dravya) and numerical prescriptions (saṃkhyā), it functions like a practical manual of worship—one of the Agni Purana’s many technical domains alongside polity, medicine, and poetics.
Using sanctified offerings with the auspicious count 1008 is presented as a merit-generating, purificatory discipline that strengthens the efficacy (siddhi) of the rite and supports spiritual purification through regulated sacrifice.