Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 10
Agnisthāpana-vidhi (Procedure for Establishing the Sacred Fire) and Protective Īśāna-kalpa Homa Sequences
रक्षितं हेतिमन्त्रेण कवचेनावगुण्ठितं पूजितन्त्रिः परिभ्राम्य कुण्डस्योर्ध्वं प्रदक्षिणं
rakṣitaṃ hetimantreṇa kavacenāvaguṇṭhitaṃ pūjitantriḥ paribhrāmya kuṇḍasyordhvaṃ pradakṣiṇaṃ
เมื่อปกป้องด้วยมนตร์เฮติและคลุมด้วยคาวจะ (เกราะพิธี) แล้วบูชาโดยชอบธรรม พึงเวียนประทักษิณรอบขอบบนของกุณฑะสามรอบ โดยให้กุณฑะอยู่ทางขวาเสมอ
Lord Agni (in dialogue with Sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa narrative frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Homa-kunda protection and correct pradakshina procedure during fire-rituals to maintain ritual purity and safety.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Kunda-raksha and Trivara Pradakshina in Homa","lookup_keywords":["heti-mantra","kavaca","kunda","pradakshina","homa-vidhi"],"quick_summary":"Protect the ritual space with Heti-mantra and kavaca, then perform three clockwise circumambulations keeping the kunda to the right, moving along its upper rim/edge."}
Concept: Ritual protection (raksha) and rightward circumambulation as alignment with auspicious cosmic order.
Application: Use kavaca and prescribed movement-patterns to stabilize attention and maintain sanctity around fire.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Homa-prayoga (Ritual Procedures and Fire-altar Circumambulation)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A consecrated fire-pit (kunda) with the practitioner performing three clockwise circumambulations, right shoulder toward the fire, after invoking a protective kavaca.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, homa-kunda with bright flames, priest in white dhoti performing pradakshina clockwise, subtle mantra-yantra aura as kavaca, warm ochres and reds, sacred geometry border","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central kunda with stylized flames, priest mid-pradakshina, gold-leaf highlights on the kunda rim and ritual vessels, ornate arch framing the homa scene","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean linework showing step-by-step pradakshina path around kunda, labeled ritual implements (sruk, sruva), soft pastel background, instructional composition","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtyard homa scene with detailed textiles and vessels, practitioner circling the kunda to the right, fine architectural detailing, delicate flame rendering"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: kavacenāvaguṇṭhitam = kavacena + avaguṇṭhitam; kuṇḍasyordhvam = kuṇḍasya + ūrdhvam; pūjitantriḥ read as pūjitaḥ + triḥ (contextual sandhi/orthography).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 75 (Puja-vidhi/Homa-prayoga sections on raksha, nyasa, and kunda-krama)
FAQs
It prescribes a precise homa-sequence: protect the rite with a weapon/protection mantra (heti-mantra), ritually ‘cover’ it with a kavaca, perform worship, and then execute three clockwise circumambulations of the fire-pit (kuṇḍa) as pradakṣiṇā.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purāṇa functions as a practical ritual handbook: it records operational details—mantra-based protection (kavaca), procedural counts (three circumambulations), and spatial rules (keeping the kuṇḍa to the right)—showing its compendium-like coverage of applied religious practice.
Mantric protection and clockwise pradakṣiṇā formalize purity, safeguard the rite from obstacles (vighna), and align the performer with auspicious order (dakṣiṇā-varta), thereby strengthening the merit (puṇya) and efficacy (siddhi) of the homa.