Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 6
Chapter 66: साधारणप्रतिष्ठाविधानम्
The Procedure for General Consecration
ब्रह्मकूर्चं समाहृत्य श्रपेद् यवमयं चरुं क्षीरेण कपिलायास्तु तद्विष्णोरिति साधकः
brahmakūrcaṃ samāhṛtya śraped yavamayaṃ caruṃ kṣīreṇa kapilāyāstu tadviṣṇoriti sādhakaḥ
เมื่อรวบรวมพรหมกูรจะอันศักดิ์สิทธิ์แล้ว ผู้ปฏิบัติพึงหุงจะรุที่ทำด้วยข้าวบาร์เลย์ โดยใช้น้ำนมโคกปิลา พร้อมสาธยายมนตร์ว่า “ตทฺ วิษฺโณห์”.
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purāṇa narrative frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Prāyaścitta/ritual offering: prepare brahma-kūrca, cook barley caru in kapilā cow’s milk, and recite the ‘tad viṣṇoḥ’ mantra during the oblation for purification and rite-completion.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Prāyaścitta caru: yava-caru in kapilā-kṣīra with ‘tad viṣṇoḥ’ mantra","lookup_keywords":["brahma-kūrca","yava-caru","kapilā-kṣīra","tad viṣṇoḥ","prāyaścitta"],"quick_summary":"For expiation/ritual purification, gather brahma-kūrca, cook a barley oblation (caru) in the milk of a tawny cow, and perform the act while chanting ‘tad viṣṇoḥ’."}
Dosha: Tridosha
Concept: Prāyaścitta integrates right substance (dravya), right act (karma), and right sound (mantra) to restore ritual and ethical purity.
Application: When undertaking expiation, follow authorized ingredients and mantra-recitation precisely; treat cooking/offerings as a disciplined sacrament, not mere food preparation.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Prāyaścitta / Ritual Expiations and Offerings)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sādhaka prepares an offering: brahma-kūrca gathered, a pot on fire with barley caru simmering in cow’s milk, while he chants ‘tad viṣṇoḥ’ before the altar.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, homa-like kitchen-altar scene, pot over flame, barley and milk vessels, sādhaka chanting with prayer beads, subtle Viṣṇu symbol in background","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, altar with gold highlights, pot of caru with stylized steam, kapilā cow depicted nearby, sādhaka chanting ‘tad viṣṇoḥ’, rich gold ornamentation","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, stepwise depiction of gathering brahma-kūrca and cooking yava-caru in milk, clear utensils and fire-pit, calm instructional composition","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed domestic-ritual setting with copper pots and fire, practitioner reciting mantra, attendants holding barley and milk, fine architectural backdrop"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Madhyamavati","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: tadviṣṇoriti → tat + viṣṇoḥ + iti; kapilāyāstu → kapilāyāḥ + tu.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 66.4 (prāyaścitta within ritual regulations); Agni Purana 66.3 (mantra construction/phonetic correctness)
FAQs
It prescribes a specific homa-style preparation: collect a consecrated brahma-kūrca (ritual grass bundle), cook a barley-based caru with kapilā cow’s milk, and recite the Viṣṇu-mantra phrase “tad viṣṇoḥ” during the act.
It exemplifies the Agni Purāṇa’s practical ritual manual aspect—giving precise materials (barley, cow’s milk, kūrca), method (cooking the caru), and mantra-citation—alongside its broader coverage of theology, dharma, and applied rites.
By combining purified ritual implements, a sattvic offering (barley cooked in milk), and Viṣṇu-mantra recitation, the act functions as a purificatory/expiatory rite intended to remove ritual impurity and generate religious merit (puṇya).