Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 37
Chapter 24 — कुण्डनिर्माणादिविधिः
Procedure for Constructing the Fire-pit and Related Rites
विष्णोर्वह्निन्तु संस्कृत्य श्रपयेद्वैष्णवञ्चरुम् आराध्य स्थिण्डिले विष्णुं मन्त्रान् संस्मृत्य संश्रपेत्
viṣṇorvahnintu saṃskṛtya śrapayedvaiṣṇavañcarum ārādhya sthiṇḍile viṣṇuṃ mantrān saṃsmṛtya saṃśrapet
విష్ణువుకు అగ్నిని సంస్కరించి వైష్ణవ చరు (యజ్ఞీయ అన్న-ఖీరు) వండాలి. స్థిణ్డిల (వేది/మండల)పై విష్ణువును ఆరాధించి, నియత మంత్రాలను స్మరించుకుంటూ యథావిధిగా దానిని సిద్ధం చేయాలి.
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Stotra","practical_application":"Procedure for Vaiṣṇava homa: consecrating fire for Viṣṇu, preparing caru, worship on sthiṇḍila, and mantra recollection—usable in household/temple rites for Viṣṇu-centered offerings.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Vaiṣṇava-homa: Viṣṇu-agni-saṃskāra and Caru-pāka on Sthiṇḍila","lookup_keywords":["vaiṣṇava homa","caru","sthiṇḍila","viṣṇu-agni saṃskāra","mantra-smṛti"],"quick_summary":"Explains how to consecrate the fire as Viṣṇu’s, cook the sacrificial caru, worship Viṣṇu on the altar, and proceed by remembered mantras. Integrates offering-cookery with deity-specific homa protocol."}
Concept: Deity-specific saṃskāra of the ritual medium (fire) and mindful mantra-smṛti transform ordinary cooking into yajña-offering.
Application: Before offering, explicitly dedicate the fire and food to Viṣṇu; maintain mantra continuity during preparation to preserve ritual identity of the caru.
Khanda Section: Pūjā-vidhi (Vaiṣṇava-homa and offering procedure)
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A Vaiṣṇava homa setting: fire altar consecrated to Viṣṇu, a pot of rice-porridge (caru) cooking, Viṣṇu worshiped on a marked sthiṇḍila/mandala, priest recalling mantras while tending the offering.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Viṣṇu presence suggested by conch-disc symbols on the sthiṇḍila, bright sacred fire, priest stirring caru pot, stylized lotus mandala, deep greens and reds, temple-lamp ambience.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, Viṣṇu as central deity with gold halo, foreground homa-kuṇḍa and caru vessel with gold highlights, sthiṇḍila drawn as ornate mandala, rich jewel tones.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean instructional depiction of steps: consecrating fire, cooking caru, worship at sthiṇḍila with mantra text strip, precise utensils and altar geometry.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed kitchen-ritual fusion: copper vessels, simmering caru, priest at altar with mandala, attendants, architectural courtyard, subtle Vaiṣṇava emblems."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: विष्णोर्वह्निन्तु = विष्णोः + वह्निम् + तु; श्रपयेद्वैष्णवञ्चरुम् = श्रपयेत् + वैष्णवम् + चरुम्; मन्त्रान् संस्मृत्य = मन्त्रान् + संस्मृत्य.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Vaiṣṇava pūjā-vidhi; Homa-vidhi; descriptions of sthiṇḍila/maṇḍala preparation
FAQs
It teaches the operational sequence of a Vaiṣṇava homa: consecrate the sacrificial fire for Viṣṇu, cook the caru as the oblation, worship Viṣṇu on the sthiṇḍila (altar), and proceed while reciting/remembering the prescribed mantras.
Alongside theology and myth, the Agni Purana preserves practical ritual technology—step-by-step instructions for fire offerings, altar use (sthiṇḍila), and mantra-governed preparation of offerings—functioning as a procedural manual within a broader compendium.
By consecrating the fire, worshiping Viṣṇu, and preparing the offering with mantra-awareness, the act becomes a properly sanctified yajña—aimed at purification, devotional merit (puṇya), and focused Viṣṇu-upāsanā rather than mere cooking.