Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 12
Chapter 52: देवीप्रतिमालक्षणं (Devī-pratimā-lakṣaṇa) — Characteristics of Goddess Images
अविलोमाग्निपर्यन्तं दीर्घाष्टकैकभेदितं तत्षडङ्गानि जात्यन्तैर् अन्वितं च क्रमाद् यजेत्
avilomāgniparyantaṃ dīrghāṣṭakaikabheditaṃ tatṣaḍaṅgāni jātyantair anvitaṃ ca kramād yajet
พึงประกอบยชน/อาหุติตามลำดับ โดยดำเนินแบบอวิโลมจนถึงอัคนี แบ่งมนตร์ตามสระยาวและหน่วยอัษฏกะ แล้วประยุกต์มนตร์หกองค์ (ษฑังคะ) ร่วมกับปัจจัยท้ายตามชั้นที่กำหนด (ชาตยันตะ)
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Operational rule for homa/pūjā: aviloma (reverse) progression to Agni, mantra segmentation by dīrgha and aṣṭaka units, and application of ṣaḍaṅga with jāti-endings for correct ritual recitation.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Aviloma-krama Homa with Mantra-Aṣṭaka Division and Ṣaḍaṅga Application","lookup_keywords":["aviloma","homa","ṣaḍaṅga","aṣṭaka","jāty-anta"],"quick_summary":"Perform offerings in reverse order up to Agni, reciting the mantra in regulated segments (long vowels and eightfold units) and attaching the six-limbed auxiliaries with proper phonetic/class endings. This standardizes pronunciation, nyāsa, and offering order."}
Concept: Mantra-śāstra correctness: krama (sequence), pāṭha-vibhāga (segmentation), and ṣaḍaṅga-yoga as enabling conditions for ritual efficacy.
Application: In homa manuals: define the recitation protocol (how to break and append limbs) to avoid svara/akṣara errors and maintain consistent offering cadence.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Agni-hotra & Vedic-Tantric Homa Procedures)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: śānta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritualist performs homa before a fire altar, reciting segmented mantra with visible sequence markers, applying ṣaḍaṅga-nyāsa and proceeding aviloma toward Agni.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, homa-kuṇḍa with stylized flames, priest in traditional attire performing nyāsa gestures (touching head/heart/shoulders), mantra syllables depicted as seed letters around the fire, orderly aviloma progression shown as circular arrows","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central blazing Agni in the kuṇḍa with gold highlights, priest offering āhuti with ladle, surrounding border of bīja-akṣaras and six-limb markers, symmetrical ritual implements","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional clarity: labeled six nyāsa points implied, mantra broken into neat segments around the figure, clean altar geometry, calm palette","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed ritual paraphernalia (sruva, ājyapātra, samidh), fire rendered delicately, scribe-like depiction of mantra segments on a scroll near the priest, architectural courtyard setting"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तत्षडङ्गानि → तत् + षडङ्गानि; जात्यन्तैर् → जात्यन्तैः (विसर्ग-लोप/रेफ्-आदेशः पदान्ते).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 52 (Agnihotra/homa paddhati context)
FAQs
It gives a procedural rule for homa/arcana: perform offerings in a specified sequence (including reverse-order progression up to Agni), while segmenting the mantra for correct recitation and applying mantra-ṣaḍaṅga (six-limbed nyāsa) alongside technical phonetic/grammatical terminations (jāty-antas).
Beyond devotion, it preserves specialized liturgical technique—mantra segmentation, metrical/phonetic handling, and ṣaḍaṅga-nyāsa—showing the Purāṇa’s coverage of precise ritual science alongside theology.
Correct sequencing and ṣaḍaṅga application are taught as safeguards for mantra efficacy; performing the rite in proper order is traditionally held to increase purification (śuddhi) and the intended merit (puṇya) of the fire-offering.
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