Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 65
Chapter 81 — समयदीक्षाविधानम्
Procedure for Samaya Initiation
शिवाग्नौ मूलमन्त्रेण पूर्वास्यश् चरुकं पचेत् सुखिन्ने तत्र तच्चुल्ल्यां श्रुवमापूर्य सर्पिषा
śivāgnau mūlamantreṇa pūrvāsyaś carukaṃ pacet sukhinne tatra taccullyāṃ śruvamāpūrya sarpiṣā
หันหน้าไปทางทิศตะวันออก แล้วหุงคะรุ (caru) ในไฟศิวะพร้อมสวดมูลมนต์; เมื่อสุกดีแล้ว ณ เตานั้นเองให้ตักเนยใสเติมลงในศรุวะ (śruva) ให้เต็ม۔
Lord Agni (narrating ritual procedure, traditionally to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Performing homa cooking of caru while oriented east, using the mūla-mantra, then preparing ghee-ladle offerings for oblations.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Śivāgni caru-pāka with mūla-mantra and ghee-filled śruva","lookup_keywords":["Śivāgni","mūla-mantra","caru","pāka (cooking)","śruva-sarpis"],"quick_summary":"Cook the caru in the Śiva-fire while facing east and reciting the root-mantra; once properly cooked, fill the śruva ladle with ghee at the same hearth for subsequent offerings."}
Concept: Yajña-krama (ordered sacrificial sequence) and dik-niyama (directional discipline).
Application: Maintain correct orientation, mantra-continuity, and readiness of offering media (ghee in śruva) to keep ritual flow unbroken.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Homa and Mantra Ritual Procedure)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"An east-facing officiant cooks caru on a hearth identified as Śiva-fire, chanting mūla-mantra, then fills a śruva ladle with ghee for offerings.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized homa scene with bright flame, priest facing east (sun motif), pot of caru simmering, śruva ladle and ghee vessel prominent, minimal depth, sacred borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central homa fire with gold leaf flames, priest with rudrākṣa accents (Śiva association), caru pot and ornate śruva, rich temple décor.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean instructional depiction of hearth (cullī), caru pot, ghee vessel, and śruva; priest shown in profile facing east with subtle mantra text ribbon.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed utensils and textures: bubbling caru, glossy ghee, metal ladle; priest seated on carpet, firelight illuminating the scene, fine architectural interior."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: शिवाग्नौ = शिव + अग्नौ; मूलमन्त्रेण = मूल-मन्त्रेण; पूर्वास्यश् = पूर्वास्यः (visarga before c); तच्चुल्ल्यां = तत् + चुल्ल्याम्; श्रुवमापूर्य = श्रुवम् + आपूर्य
Related Themes: Agni Purana 81 (homa-vidhi sequence: caru, śruva, sārpiṣa offerings)
FAQs
It gives a practical Śaiva-homa instruction: cook the caru while reciting the mūla-mantra, face east, and once the caru is properly cooked, prepare ghee in the śruva ladle for offering.
Beyond mythology, the Agni Purana preserves step-by-step operational details of pūjā and homa—orientation, implements (śruva), materials (caru, ghee), and mantra-application—showing it as a manual of ritual technology alongside other sciences.
Correct preparation and offering—performed with mantra, proper direction, and prescribed substances—supports ritual purity and efficacy (siddhi) of the Śiva-yajña, understood to generate merit (puṇya) and purification through disciplined worship.