Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 39
Chapter 303: Mantras for Worship Beginning with the Five-syllable (Pañcākṣara) — पञ्चाक्षरादिपूजामन्त्राः
कमलानना इति ञ सन्धादिमेखले इति ख एकैकस्य शतं हुत्वा व्योममूलेन होमयेत् हुत्वा पूर्णाहुतिं कुर्यादस्त्रेणाष्टाहुतीर्हुनेत्
kamalānanā iti ña sandhādimekhale iti kha ekaikasya śataṃ hutvā vyomamūlena homayet hutvā pūrṇāhutiṃ kuryādastreṇāṣṭāhutīrhunet
Sa mga pormulang pantig na “kamalānanā” (itinuturing na ña) at “sandhādimekhale” (itinuturing na kha), maghandog ng tig-iisang daang oblation para sa bawat isa. Pagkatapos, magsagawa ng homa gamit ang “Vyoma-mūla” (ugat na mantra na nagsisimula sa vyoma). Matapos maghandog, gawin ang pūrṇāhuti (ganap na pangwakas na handog), at saka maghandog ng walong oblation sa Astra-mantra.
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in ritual procedure, as typical of the Agni Purana’s dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Execute japa/homa counts with specified bija-formulas (kamalānanā = ña; sandhādimekhale = kha), offering 100 oblations each; then homa with Vyoma-mūla, complete pūrṇāhuti, and seal with eight oblations using the Astra-mantra for protection/closure.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Homa Counts with Kamalānanā/Sandhādimekhale, Vyoma-mūla, Pūrṇāhuti, and Astra-Sealing","lookup_keywords":["kamalanana","sandhadimekhale","vyoma-mula","purnahuti","astra-mantra"],"quick_summary":"Perform fixed-number oblations with designated mantra-syllables, proceed with the Vyoma-mūla offering, conclude with pūrṇāhuti, and finalize with eight Astra-mantra oblations to ritually seal and protect the rite."}
Weapon Type: Astra (mantric weapon as protective discharge)
Concept: Mantra is operationalized through number (saṅkhyā) and sequence (krama): repetition, culmination (pūrṇāhuti), and protective closure (astra).
Application: Maintain strict counts and closing rites in homa to avoid procedural incompleteness and to ‘seal’ the intended sankalpa.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Agni-vidhi (Mantra-japa and Homa procedure)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A homa altar with the officiant offering repeated oblations while reciting specific bija-formulas; a highlighted moment of pūrṇāhuti, followed by eight final ‘astra’ offerings forming a protective ring of light around the fire.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, rhythmic sequence of offerings into a bright fire, stylized syllable-glyphs near the flames (ña, kha, vyoma), concluding burst for pūrṇāhuti, then eight small flame-marks around as astra-seal.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf flames and ornate ladle, pūrṇāhuti depicted as a radiant golden flare, eight smaller offerings encircling the altar like a protective aureole.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional depiction with count markers (100 + 100 + concluding steps), clear visualization of pūrṇāhuti and eight astra oblations, fine linework and calm palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed ritual implements and attendants, sequential offering scene, luminous final oblation, eight small sparks arranged symmetrically around the fire to indicate astra sealing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: व्योममूलेन = व्योम + मूलेन (अ + म → अम्). पूर्णाहुतिं = पूर्ण + आहुतिम् (अ + आ → आ). कुर्यादस्त्रेण = कुर्यात् + अस्त्रेण (त् + अ → द). अष्टाहुतीर्हुनेत् = अष्टाहुतीः + हुनेत् (ः + ह → र्ह).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 303 (homa-krama, pūrṇāhuti, astra usage); Agni Purana mantra sections on mūla-mantra and aṅga/astramantra applications
FAQs
It gives an exact homa-prayoga: offer 100 oblations for each of two specified mantra-formulas, then perform oblations with the Vyoma-mūla mantra, conclude with a pūrṇāhuti, and finally offer 8 oblations with the Astra-mantra for ritual sealing/protection.
Beyond mythic narration, it preserves operational ritual details—mantra identifiers, exact oblation counts, sequencing (main offerings → root-mantra homa → pūrṇāhuti → protective astra offerings)—illustrating the text’s manual-like coverage of worship technology (puja-vidhi/tantric prayoga).
Correct counts and the concluding pūrṇāhuti are understood to complete and stabilize the rite, while the Astra-mantra oblations function as protective closure—aimed at purification, successful completion (siddhi), and safeguarding the performer and the ritual space.