Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 19
Chapter 66: साधारणप्रतिष्ठाविधानम्
The Procedure for General Consecration
विष्णो रराटमन्त्रेण ततो द्वादश चाहुतीः एवं दत्वा इति ख, ङ, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः एतान् दत्वा इति घ, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः ॐ विष्णवे प्रवृषाय स्वाहा इति घ, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः इदं विष्णुरिरावती चरोर्द्वादश आहुतीः
viṣṇo rarāṭamantreṇa tato dvādaśa cāhutīḥ evaṃ datvā iti kha, ṅa, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ etān datvā iti gha, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ oṃ viṣṇave pravṛṣāya svāhā iti gha, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ idaṃ viṣṇurirāvatī carordvādaśa āhutīḥ
ต่อจากนั้น ใช้มันตระ ‘วิษณุ-รราฏะ’ ถวายอาหุติ 12 ครั้ง (บางคัมภีร์อ่านว่า “เมื่อถวายดังนี้”, บางคัมภีร์ว่า “เมื่อถวายสิ่งเหล่านี้”; อีกสำนวนใช้วลีอาหุติว่า “โอม แด่พระวิษณุ ผู้ประทานฝน (ปรวฤษา) สวาหา”) ดังนี้เป็นอาหุติข้าวกวนบูชา (จรุ) 12 ครั้งแด่พระวิษณุและอิราวตี
Lord Agni (instructor-narrator) speaking to the sage Vasiṣṭha (frame dialogue typical of Agni Purana).
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Use of a specific ‘Viṣṇu Rarāṭa’ mantra (or variant reading ‘Pravṛṣā’) to offer twelve āhutis of caru to Viṣṇu and Irāvatī; awareness of manuscript variants in ritual recitation.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Viṣṇu Rarāṭa / Pravṛṣā Mantra Variant and 12 Caru-Āhutis (Viṣṇu–Irāvatī)","lookup_keywords":["rarāṭa mantra","pravṛṣā","caru āhuti","irāvatī","manuscript variant"],"quick_summary":"Offer twelve caru oblations using the Viṣṇu ‘Rarāṭa’ mantra; some recensions prescribe ‘Oṃ Viṣṇave Pravṛṣā svāhā’. The target deities are Viṣṇu and Irāvatī, linking offering with rain/abundance."}
Concept: Ritual efficacy depends on both fixed counts (twelve āhutis) and correct mantra-reading; the Purāṇa preserves variant pāṭhas, implying a controlled flexibility within tradition.
Application: Choose a consistent recension/ācārya-line reading for public rites; document the chosen mantra-formula and keep the āhuti count invariant.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Homa-prayoga (Vishnu-yajna and mantra-offerings)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritualist offers twelve spoonfuls of caru into the fire while reciting the Viṣṇu Rarāṭa mantra; a marginal note shows alternate manuscript readings; Viṣṇu and Irāvatī are invoked for rain and plenty.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, homa fire with rhythmic twelve offerings shown as repeated gestures, palm-leaf manuscript with variant lines at the side, rain-cloud motifs above, earthy pigments and temple border designs","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-highlighted fire and ladle, twelve small gold dots marking āhutis, Viṣṇu and Irāvatī as blessing figures above, ornate manuscript motif with gilded edges","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, didactic composition: numbered twelve āhuti steps, caru bowl, ladle, and a side panel listing variant mantra readings, precise linework and soft colors","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholar-priest with manuscript open, assistant counting twelve offerings, delicate depiction of caru bowl and fire altar, cloud-and-rain symbolism in background"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shuddha Sarang","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चाहुतीः = च + आहुतीः; चरोर्द्वादश = चरोः + द्वादश. Editorial notes like ‘चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः’ omitted from pada list as non-verse apparatus.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 66 (caru preparation/offerings; mantra sequences; pūrṇāhuti context)
FAQs
It prescribes a precise homa sequence: performing twelve āhutis using a specified Viṣṇu-mantra (identified as the ‘Rarāṭa’ mantra), with an alternate oblation-formula “oṁ viṣṇave pravṛṣāya svāhā,” and specifies the substance as caru (sacrificial porridge) offered to Viṣṇu and Irāvatī.
It functions like a ritual manual embedded within the Purāṇa—recording counts (twelve oblations), mantra-variants across manuscripts, deity-targets (Viṣṇu/Irāvatī), and the offering-material (caru), illustrating the text’s catalog-like preservation of practical liturgical procedures.
By correctly offering the prescribed number of āhutis with the proper mantra and substance, the practitioner aligns the rite with Viṣṇu’s sustaining power (and the rain/abundance aspect implied by ‘Pravṛṣā’ and Irāvatī), traditionally understood to support purification, prosperity, and ritual efficacy (yajña-siddhi).