Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 20
Chapter 64 — कूपादिप्रतिष्ठाकथनं
The Account of the Consecration of Wells and Other Water-Works
वेदादिमन्त्रैर् गन्धाद्याश् चतस्रो धेनवो दुहेत् दिक्ष्वथो वै यवचरुं ततः संस्थाप्य होमयेत्
vedādimantrair gandhādyāś catasro dhenavo duhet dikṣvatho vai yavacaruṃ tataḥ saṃsthāpya homayet
ด้วยมนตร์เปิดแห่งพระเวท พึง ‘รีด’ (จัดเตรียม) เครื่องบูชาแบบธेनุสี่ประการเริ่มด้วยของหอมเป็นต้น แล้วตั้งยวะจรุ (ข้าวบาร์เลย์ปรุง) ไว้ตามทิศ ครั้นตั้งแล้วพึงประกอบโหมะ
Lord Agni (in instruction to Sage Vasiṣṭha, standard Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Preparation and directional placement of four ‘dhenu’ offerings (cow-form upacāras) with gandha etc., followed by establishing a yava-caru and performing homa using Vedic opening mantras.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Catur-dhenu Upacāra and Yava-caru Homa (with Veda-ādi mantras)","lookup_keywords":["veda-adi-mantra","catasro-dhenavah","gandha-adi","yava-caru","dik-homa"],"quick_summary":"Using introductory Vedic mantras, prepare four dhenu-offerings beginning with fragrant substances, place/offer them in the directions, establish a barley caru, then perform homa."}
Concept: Directional harmonization: offerings mapped to dik-devatās; food-offering (caru) as a stabilizing sacrificial medium.
Application: Guides homa practitioners to structure offerings: mantra-opening, preparation of dravya sets, dik-nyāsa/placement, then main homa.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Agni-hotra / Homa-vidhi and ancillary offerings)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Priests prepare four cow-form offerings (dhenu) with fragrant substances, arrange them toward the four directions, then set a vessel of barley caru near the fire and begin homa recitation.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, four directional stations around a central homa fire, trays of gandha and offerings shaped/symbolized as dhenu, priest chanting Vedic openings, subdued temple interior lighting","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, central homa-kuṇḍa with gold flame accents, four directional offering stands, ornate vessel of yava-caru, rich decorative borders and arch","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional layout diagram feel: compass-like directional markers, four dhenu offerings labeled, barley caru pot near kuṇḍa, priest with ladle beginning homa","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, top-down pavilion scene with precise geometry, four corners holding offerings, central fire, attendants carrying perfume bowls and a caru vessel, fine textile patterns"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वेदादिमन्त्रैर् → वेदादिमन्त्रैः; गन्धाद्याश् → गन्धाद्याः; दिक्ष्वथो → दिक्षु + अथ + उ; होमयेत् = हु धातोः णिच् (causative) + विधिलिङ्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana homa-dravya lists; dik-devatā invocation sequences; caru preparation rules (same puja-vidhi corpus)
FAQs
It gives a practical homa sequence: recite Vedic initial mantras, prepare a fourfold offering-series (likened to ‘milking’ cows, starting with fragrant substances), place offerings in the quarters, and establish a barley caru to be offered into the fire.
Alongside theology and mythology, the Agni Purana preserves procedural ritual know-how—precise materials (gandha, yava), offering types (caru), and spatial ritual logic (dikṣu)—showing its role as a compendium of applied religious practice.
By combining mantra, correctly prepared oblations, and directionally ordered offerings, the rite is framed as a purificatory act that harmonizes the sacrificer with cosmic order (ṛta) and accrues ritual merit through properly executed homa.