Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 17
Agnisthāpana-vidhi (Procedure for Establishing the Sacred Fire) and Protective Īśāna-kalpa Homa Sequences
जुहुयादाहुतीस्तिस्रः शिखया शिखयैव तु वक्त्राङ्गकल्पनां कुर्याद्वक्त्रोद्घाटननिष्कृती
juhuyādāhutīstisraḥ śikhayā śikhayaiva tu vaktrāṅgakalpanāṃ kuryādvaktrodghāṭananiṣkṛtī
ให้ถวายอาหุติสามครั้ง แล้วใช้ศิขา คือเปลวไฟ—ด้วยเปลวไฟเท่านั้น—ทำการกำหนด/วางนัย (นยาส) แก่ปากและอวัยวะตามแบบแผน นี่คือพิธีชำระโทษ (นิษกฤติ) ที่เรียกว่า ‘วักตระ-อุทฆาฏนะ’ หรือการ “เปิดปาก”
Lord Agni (Agni Purana’s primary narrator) addressing the sage Vasiṣṭha
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Homa-based prayoga for vaktra-udghāṭana-niṣkṛti: three oblations and a flame-mediated aṅga/nyāsa-style visualization (mouth and limbs) using the śikhā (flame) as the operative instrument.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Vaktra-udghāṭana-niṣkṛti: flame-based aṅga-kalpanā with three āhutis","lookup_keywords":["vaktra-udghāṭana","niṣkṛti","śikhā (flame)","aṅga-kalpanā","three oblations"],"quick_summary":"Offer three oblations and, using the flame as the sole ritual medium, perform the prescribed visualization/placement of mouth and limbs; this functions as an expiatory ‘opening of the mouth’ rite."}
Concept: Agni as purifier and revealer: ‘opening’ (udghāṭana) symbolizes restoring proper function/auspiciousness through mantra-visualization and homa.
Application: Use a tightly defined sequence (three āhutis + śikhā-mediated aṅga-kalpanā) when correcting ritual faults or removing subtle obstructions.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Homa and mantra-ritual procedures / prayoga)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A priest performs three oblations; the flame rises prominently as he gestures toward mouth and limbs in a visualization/nyāsa-like sequence, signifying the expiatory ‘opening of the mouth.’","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, dramatic stylized flame (śikhā) central, priest in profile performing mudrā toward face and limbs, subtle aura lines indicating aṅga-kalpanā, deep reds and ochres, sacred intensity","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf flame and halo effects, priest before homa-kunda, hands in precise mudrā near mouth and chest, ornate ritual vessels, expiatory theme conveyed through radiant fire","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, diagrammatic clarity: sequence of gestures mapped to body parts (mouth, limbs) with the flame as pointer, three oblations shown as three distinct moments, clean background","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, finely rendered fire and smoke, priest performing gestures toward face and limbs, attendants holding implements, calligraphic label ‘vaktra-udghāṭana’ in a cartouche"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: juhuyādāhutīstisraḥ = juhuyāt + āhutīḥ + tisraḥ; śikhayaiva = śikhayā + eva; kuryādvaktrodghāṭananiṣkṛtī = kuryāt + vaktra-udghāṭana-niṣkṛtīḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 75 (homa-prayoga and niṣkṛti subsections)
FAQs
It teaches a specific homa-prayoga: offering three āhutis and performing vaktrāṅga-kalpanā (ritual arrangement/visualization of the deity’s mouth and limbs) using the flame as the operative medium, as part of the vaktra-udghāṭana niṣkṛti.
Alongside theology and myth, the Agni Purana preserves practical ritual technology—named remedial rites (niṣkṛtis), exact counts of offerings, and procedural details—showing its scope as a manual of applied religious practice.
As a niṣkṛti, it functions as a corrective/purificatory act: the properly performed flame-based “opening of the mouth” rite is intended to remove ritual defects and restore the efficacy and merit of worship.
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