Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 17
Mahāpātaka-ādi-kathana
Account of the Great Sins) — concluding note incl. ‘Mārjāra-vadha’ (killing of a cat
कृत्वाग्निं विधिवद्धीमानन्ततस्तु समित्तृचा चन्द्रेन्द्रगुरुवह्नीनां जुहुयात् सर्पिषाहुतिं
kṛtvāgniṃ vidhivaddhīmānantatastu samittṛcā candrendraguruvahnīnāṃ juhuyāt sarpiṣāhutiṃ
قواعد کے مطابق مقدّس آگ قائم کرکے، دانا سادھک پھر سمِدھا کے منتر کے ساتھ چندر، اندر، گرو (برہسپتی) اور اگنی کے نام پر آگ میں گھی کی آہوتیاں دے۔
Lord Agni (traditionally instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Agnihotra/homa performance: preparing the fire, selecting the appropriate ṛc for samit (kindling), and offering ghee oblations to specified devatās in correct sequence.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Ghee oblations to Candra–Indra–Bṛhaspati–Agni in homa","lookup_keywords":["agnihotra","homa-vidhi","samit-ṛc","sarpis-āhuti","Candra Indra Bṛhaspati Agni"],"quick_summary":"After establishing the sacred fire by rule, offer ghee oblations with the kindling-verse, addressing Candra, Indra, Bṛhaspati (Guru), and Agni—emphasizing devatā-specific āhutis within a standardized homa sequence."}
Concept: Ritual efficacy depends on vidhi (correct procedure), mantra/ṛc selection, and devatā-sambandha (proper address).
Application: Use a fixed offering order and correct mantric accompaniment to maintain śuddhi and intended phala in homa.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Agni-hotra & Homa-vidhi (Vedic fire-ritual procedure)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A learned householder-priest before a blazing altar, placing kindling and pouring ghee with a ladle while invoking Candra, Indra, Bṛhaspati, and Agni in sequence.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, agnihotra scene with square fire-altar, priest in white dhoti, bright vermilion flames, subtle depictions of Candra (crescent), Indra (vajra), Bṛhaspati (guru staff), and Agni (two-faced flame deity) hovering as iconographic emblems, flat colors and bold outlines.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central homa-kunda with gold-leaf flames, priest offering ghee with sruk, ornate aureoles for Candra, Indra with vajra, Bṛhaspati as guru with rosary, Agni enthroned in flame halo, rich reds and greens, heavy jewelry motifs.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional ritual layout: labeled ladle (sruk), ghee pot, kindling sticks, altar geometry, priest posture, minimal background, delicate lines and soft shading.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly veranda turned ritual space, detailed utensils and textiles, small luminous fire, four celestial figures symbolically present in the sky band, fine brushwork and naturalistic faces."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: kṛtvā + agniṃ → kṛtvāgniṃ; vidhi-vat + dhīmān → vidhivaddhīmān (final -t → -d before voiced); anantataḥ + tu → anantatastu; samit + tṛcā → samittṛcā; candra+indra+guru+vahnīnām compounded as dvandva; sarpiṣā + āhutiṃ → sarpiṣāhutiṃ
Related Themes: Agni Purana: sections on pūjā-vidhi, agnihotra/homa-vidhi, mantra-nyāsa and āhuti-krama (adjacent chapters in the 160s–170s prāyaścitta/pūjā corpus)
FAQs
It gives a precise homa sequence: after establishing the fire correctly, the practitioner performs ghee-offerings (sarpiṣ-āhuti) using a samid-ṛc (kindling verse), directing the oblations to specific deities—Chandra, Indra, Guru (Bṛhaspati), and Agni.
It functions like a ritual handbook entry, preserving procedural details—materials (ghee), liturgical instrument (samid-ṛc), and the exact devatā-targets—showing how the Agni Purāṇa compiles practical instructions alongside theology and other sciences.
By offering clarified butter with the proper mantra and correct devatā-intention, the rite is understood to purify the performer, align the sacrifice with cosmic powers (Moon and Indra) and sacred guidance (Guru), and strengthen the central fire-principle (Agni) that carries offerings to the gods.