Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 60
Agnisthāpana-vidhi (Procedure for Establishing the Sacred Fire) and Protective Īśāna-kalpa Homa Sequences
सर्वपाकाग्रमादाय कृत्वा मण्डलकद्वयं अन्तर्वहिर्बलिं दद्यादाग्नेय्यां कुण्डसन्निधौ
sarvapākāgramādāya kṛtvā maṇḍalakadvayaṃ antarvahirbaliṃ dadyādāgneyyāṃ kuṇḍasannidhau
ให้นำส่วนที่ประเสริฐที่สุดจากอาหารที่ปรุงสุกทั้งหมด แล้วทำมณฑลพิธีสองวง จากนั้นถวายบลีทั้งภายในและภายนอก ณ ทิศอัคนี (ตะวันออกเฉียงใต้) ใกล้กุณฑะคือหลุมไฟบูชา
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the Agni Purana’s standard dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Standardizes bali-placement in homa: take first portions of cooked food, draw two maṇḍalas, and offer inner/outer bali at the Agneya side near the kuṇḍa to harmonize the ritual space.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Antar–Bahir Bali at Agneya near Kuṇḍa","lookup_keywords":["bali-vidhi","antarbali","bahirbali","agneya-dik","kuṇḍa-sannidhi"],"quick_summary":"Reserve the foremost portion of all cooked foods and offer bali in two concentric ritual zones (inner and outer), positioned at the Agneya quarter beside the fire-pit."}
Concept: Ritual space is structured by maṇḍala and dik; correct placement converts food into protective, harmonizing offering.
Application: Use directional zoning (inner/outer) to prevent doṣa in homa—misplacement is treated as a ritual fault affecting efficacy.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Agni-hotra / Homa and Bali-vidhi)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Sacred-direction (dik)
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A homa-kuṇḍa with two drawn maṇḍalas (inner and outer). The officiant takes the first portion of cooked foods and places bali offerings at the south-east side near the fire-pit.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style: homa scene with square kuṇḍa, glowing Agni, priest in white dhoti, two concentric maṇḍalas on the floor, bali bowls placed at Agneya corner, warm ochres and reds, stylized flames and lotus motifs.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting: central kuṇḍa with embossed gold flames, priest offering bali at the south-east, two circular maṇḍalas rendered with decorative borders, rich jewel tones, gold highlights on vessels and fire.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting: clean instructional composition showing kuṇḍa, labeled inner/outer maṇḍalas, priest taking ‘foremost portion’ from cooked food platter, placing bali at Agneya; delicate linework, muted palette, clarity of ritual geometry.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: courtyard homa with detailed utensils, food platters, priest placing bali near the kuṇḍa at south-east, precise floor patterns for two maṇḍalas, fine architectural background, naturalistic shading."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अन्तर्वहिर्बलिं → अन्तः + बहिः + बलिम् (पदानि पृथक्); दद्यादाग्नेय्यां → दद्यात् + आग्नेय्याम् (त् + आ → दा); सर्वपाकाग्रमादाय → सर्वपाकाग्रम् + आदाय; कुण्डसन्निधौ is a तत्पुरुष compound.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 75 (bali-vidhi sequence); Agni Purana 74–76 (homa/puja procedural continuum)
FAQs
It teaches bali-vidhi connected to homa: take the first portion of cooked food, prepare two mandalas, and place bali offerings both inside and outside the ritual space specifically at the Agneya (south-east) side near the kunda.
It preserves precise procedural details—food portions, mandala construction, and directional placement—showing the text’s manual-like coverage of applied ritual science alongside its broader theological and cultural topics.
Offering the first portion as bali near the fire-altar is a disciplined act of consecration and appeasement, supporting ritual purity, orderly worship, and the harmonizing of the rite with Agni’s directional domain.