Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 41
Chapter 34 — होमादिविधिः
The Procedure for Homa and Related Rites
चन्द्रवक्त्रञ्च सूर्याक्षं जुहुयाच्छतमष्ट च तदर्धञ्चाष्ट मूलेन अङ्गानाञ्च दशांशतः
candravaktrañca sūryākṣaṃ juhuyācchatamaṣṭa ca tadardhañcāṣṭa mūlena aṅgānāñca daśāṃśataḥ
‘چندر وَکتر’ اور ‘سوریہ آکش’ (منتر-دیوتاؤں) کے لیے ایک سو آٹھ آہوتیاں دے؛ پھر اس کا آدھا یعنی چون (54) آہوتیاں دے۔ پھر مُول منتر سے اَنگ منترون کی آہوتیاں اصل تعداد کے دسویں حصے کے مطابق ادا کرے۔
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, as the standard Agni Purana discourse frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Homa-japa counts for specific mantra-devatā aspects (‘Moon-faced’, ‘Sun-eyed’): perform 108 oblations, then 54; then offer for aṅga-mantras at one-tenth of the main count using the mūla-mantra framework.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Homa-saṅkhyā for Candra-vaktra & Sūrya-akṣa and Aṅga-daśāṃśa Rule","lookup_keywords":["chandra-vaktra","surya-aksha","homa-108","homa-54","anga-dashamsha"],"quick_summary":"For the specified mantra-aspects, offer 108 oblations and then 54; afterward complete aṅga (limb) offerings at one-tenth of the principal count, maintaining proportional completeness in mantra-homa."}
Alamkara Type: Rūpaka
Concept: Pūrṇatā (ritual completeness) via saṅkhyā and aṅga-upāṅga structure: main mantra and its limbs are harmonized by proportional offerings.
Application: Use 108 as the principal completion count; apply 54 as an auxiliary half-completion; ensure aṅga offerings at 1/10 to ‘seal’ the practice without excess or deficiency.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Mantra-japa and Homa Prayoga)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A homa scene with a counting mala and a tally of 108 offerings; the deity-visualization appears as a luminous figure with moon-like face and sun-like eyes; subsequent smaller set of aṅga offerings shown as one-tenth portions.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, priest offering into fire with mala, stylized deity visage: moon-face and sun-eyes, 108 represented by bead garland motif, aṅga offerings as smaller grouped flames, serene palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold work on the deity’s halo and sun-like eyes, cool silver-white moon face, priest and altar richly ornamented, 108 and 54 symbolized by bead strings and grouped offerings","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional clarity: panels showing 108 then 54, then aṅga offerings at 1/10, deity epithets illustrated with moon disc face and sun disc eyes, fine detailing","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, meticulous counting scene with assistant recording 108, deity apparition with moonlike visage and solar eyes, subsequent smaller offering set depicted, refined interior setting"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चन्द्रवक्त्रम्+च→चन्द्रवक्त्रञ्च; जुहुयात्+शतम्→जुहुयाच्छतम्; शतम्+अष्ट→शतमष्ट; तत्+अर्धम्→तदर्धम्; तदर्धम्+च+अष्ट→तदर्धञ्चाष्ट; अङ्गानाम्+च→अङ्गानाञ्च
Related Themes: Agni Purana 34 (japa-homa saṅkhyā, mūla-mantra and aṅga-mantra prayoga)
FAQs
It specifies homa-counts: perform 108 oblations for the indicated mantra-forms, then 54 (half), and perform aṅga-mantra offerings at one-tenth of the main mūla-mantra count.
Beyond mythology, it preserves precise ritual engineering—numerical prayoga rules for mantra-based fire offerings—showing the text’s function as a practical handbook for pūjā, homa, and mantra procedure.
Correct counts and proportions are treated as essential for mantra-siddhi and purification; following the prescribed measures is said to align the rite with its intended spiritual efficacy and merit.