Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 7
Chapter 66: साधारणप्रतिष्ठाविधानम्
The Procedure for General Consecration
प्रणवेनाभिघार्यैव दर्व्या सङ्घट्टयेत्ततः साधयित्वावतार्याथ विष्णुमभ्यर्च्य होमयेत्
praṇavenābhighāryaiva darvyā saṅghaṭṭayettataḥ sādhayitvāvatāryātha viṣṇumabhyarcya homayet
ก่อนอื่นให้ชำระเครื่องบูชาด้วยปรณวะ (โอม) แล้วจึงใช้ทัพพีพิธี (ดรวี) คนให้เข้ากัน เมื่อจัดเตรียมให้ถูกต้องและวางลงแล้ว พึงบูชาพระวิษณุ แล้วจึงประกอบโหมะ (บูชาไฟ)
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the common Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Standardized sequencing of Vaishnava homa: consecration with Oṁ, handling of ladle/offerings, Vishnu-archana, then oblation.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Praṇava-saṃskāra and Viṣṇu-archana prior to Homa","lookup_keywords":["praṇava","abhighāraṇa","darvī","viṣṇu-arcana","homa-krama"],"quick_summary":"Consecrate the offering with Oṁ, properly combine/prepare it with the ladle, place it, worship Viṣṇu, and only then begin homa—establishing a clean ritual order."}
Concept: Mantra-saṃskāra and īśvara-arpita karma: ritual action becomes efficacious when preceded by consecration and devotion.
Application: In any homa, begin with praṇava and īśvara-pūjā to frame the act as disciplined offering rather than mere technique.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Homa and Vaishnava worship procedure)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A homa-kunda with a priest consecrating the offering by uttering Oṁ, stirring ghee/oblation with a ladle, then turning to a small Viṣṇu altar for brief worship before offering into fire.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, warm earthy palette, priest in white mundu near a square homa-kunda, stylized flames, a small Viṣṇu shrine with conch and discus motifs, gesture of praṇava recitation, traditional ornamental borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central Viṣṇu on a small pedestal with gold foil halo, foreground priest holding darvī over homa fire, rich reds and greens, embossed ornaments, ritual vessels neatly arranged.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, fine linework and soft shading, instructional clarity: sequence panels showing Oṁ consecration, ladle mixing, placing offering, Viṣṇu-archana, then homa; minimal background, labeled ritual implements.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed courtly interior adapted as ritual pavilion, precise depiction of ladle, ghee pot, fire altar, priest reciting Oṁ, small Viṣṇu icon to the side, delicate floral margins."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: praṇavena + abhighārya + eva → praṇavenābhighāryaiva; avatārya + atha → avatāryātha; viṣṇum + abhyarcya → viṣṇumabhyarcya
Related Themes: Agni Purana 66 (Pūjā-vidhi: homa-krama); Agni Purana sections on Vaiṣṇava-pūjā and mantra-nyāsa (related pūjā chapters)
FAQs
It teaches the correct sequence for homa: sanctify the offering with Oṁ (Praṇava), properly mix/prepare it using the ladle, place it appropriately, worship Viṣṇu, and only then offer into the fire.
It preserves a practical, step-by-step ritual protocol (mantra-consecration, utensil action, deity-arcana, and oblation), showing the Agni Purana functioning as a handbook of applied worship and yajña procedure alongside its many other disciplines.
By consecrating with Praṇava and worshipping Viṣṇu before the offering, the act is framed as purified and deity-centered, making the homa a disciplined, meritorious rite rather than a merely mechanical fire-offering.