Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 63
Agnisthāpana-vidhi (Procedure for Establishing the Sacred Fire) and Protective Īśāna-kalpa Homa Sequences
वायव्ये हाञ्च नागेभ्यो नक्षत्रेभ्यश् च मध्यतः हां राशिभ्यः स्वाहा वह्नौ विश्वेभ्यो नैरृते यथा
vāyavye hāñca nāgebhyo nakṣatrebhyaś ca madhyataḥ hāṃ rāśibhyaḥ svāhā vahnau viśvebhyo nairṛte yathā
ทิศวายุ (ตะวันตกเฉียงเหนือ) ถวายบลีพร้อม ‘หาญ’ แด่นาค; และจากกึ่งกลางถวายแด่นักษัตรด้วย ด้วย ‘หาม’ จงถวายแด่ราศี โดยกล่าว ‘สวาหา’ แล้วบูชาในไฟ; และเช่นเดียวกัน ณ ทิศไนฤต แด่วิศวเทวะ
Lord Agni (teaching the rite to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional dialogue)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Jyotisha","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Integrates nakṣatra and rāśi propitiation into bali/homa through directional and central offerings, supporting astrological pacification within puja-vidhi.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Nakṣatra–Rāśi Bali with Nāga and Viśvedevas Offerings","lookup_keywords":["nakṣatra-tarpana","rāśi-homa","nāga-bali","viśvedevas","vāyavya"],"quick_summary":"Offer bali in the Vāyavya quarter to Nāgas (hāñ), make central offerings to Nakṣatras, and with ‘hāṃ svāhā’ offer to Rāśis into the fire; additionally offer in Nairṛta to Viśvedevas."}
Concept: Microcosm–macrocosm linkage: the ritual ground mirrors the sky (nakṣatra/rāśi), and offerings aim to synchronize human action with cosmic timing.
Application: Used when performing rites for auspiciousness, graha-balancing, or removing astrological impediments by integrating jyotiṣa entities into homa.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Mantra-nyasa and Dik-puja (Directional offerings in fire-ritual context)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: Sacred-direction (dik) and ritual center
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual mandala with a central point for Nakṣatra offerings, fire for Rāśi oblations with ‘svāhā’, and quarter placements for Nāgas (NW) and Viśvedevas (SW).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: starry band of nakṣatras above the mandala, zodiac ring motif around the kuṇḍa; priest offering into fire; nāga icon at Vāyavya; viśvedevas as a collective divine row at Nairṛta; earthy reds and deep greens.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: gold zodiac wheel encircling the fire; central nakṣatra lotus; priest offering ghee with ‘svāhā’; stylized serpent emblem at NW; gold-ornamented divine assembly for Viśvedevas at SW.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clear schematic—center labeled Nakṣatra, fire labeled Rāśi-homa, NW labeled Nāga-bali, SW labeled Viśvedevas; minimal background, precise geometry.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: refined top-down mandala with zodiac motifs; priest and assistants; delicate star patterns; serpent banner at NW; small group of deities at SW."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: हाञ्च → हां + च; नक्षत्रेभ्यश् च → नक्षत्रेभ्यः + च; विश्वेभ्यो → विश्वेभ्यः (ओ-लेखनभेद/विसर्गलोपः).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 75 (dik-bali mantras); Agni Purana jyotiṣa-related sections elsewhere in the text (nakṣatra/rāśi discussions)
FAQs
It prescribes a homa-style sequence of offerings tied to directions and cosmic groups—Nāgas, Nakṣatras, and Rāśis—using specific bīja-syllables (“hāñ”, “hāṃ”) and the oblation formula “svāhā,” with an additional directional offering to the Viśvedevas.
It blends ritual liturgy (homa and dik-puja) with Jyotiṣa categories (nakṣatra and rāśi), showing how the Agni Purana integrates cosmology, mantra-practice, and ceremonial procedure into a single operational manual.
By ritually honoring direction-linked powers and cosmic regulators through fire offerings, the practitioner seeks harmonization with protective forces (Nāgas), time-cycles (Nakṣatras), and zodiacal order (Rāśis), supporting purification, auspiciousness, and obstacle-removal in the rite.