Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 34
Chapter 34 — होमादिविधिः
The Procedure for Homa and Related Rites
कुण्डमध्ये ऋतुमतीं लक्ष्मीं सञ्चिन्त्य होमयेत् कुण्डलक्ष्मीः समाख्याता प्रकृतिस्त्रिगुणात्मका
kuṇḍamadhye ṛtumatīṃ lakṣmīṃ sañcintya homayet kuṇḍalakṣmīḥ samākhyātā prakṛtistriguṇātmakā
当于火坛中央观想具季节之力、丰饶而吉祥的吉祥天女 Lakṣmī，然后行火供。她被称为“Kuṇḍa-Lakṣmī（坛中吉祥天）”，即本原自然 Prakṛti，其体性由三德（guṇa）构成。
Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purana narrator) instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Teaches deity-visualization (dhyāna) of Kuṇḍa-Lakṣmī within the fire-pit as part of homa, integrating śākta metaphysics (Prakṛti, three guṇas) into ritual performance.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Kuṇḍa-Lakṣmī dhyāna in homa (Prakṛti as trigunātmikā)","lookup_keywords":["kuṇḍa-lakṣmī","homa-dhyāna","prakṛti","triguṇa","ṛtumati"],"quick_summary":"Before offering oblations, visualize Lakṣmī as present in the kuṇḍa in her fertile/auspicious potency. This Lakṣmī is identified with Prakṛti constituted of the three guṇas, linking ritual fire with cosmological power."}
Concept: Prakṛti as trigunātmikā is sacralized as Śrī (Lakṣmī) within the ritual microcosm of the kuṇḍa; ritual and metaphysics are made continuous.
Application: During homa, stabilize attention by placing the deity in the kuṇḍa’s center; interpret offerings as harmonizing guṇas toward śrī (prosperity and auspicious order).
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Homa-vidhi (Agneya-vidya: fire-ritual procedure and deity-visualization)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A fire-pit viewed from above with a luminous Lakṣmī-form envisioned in its center; the priest offers ghee while mentally installing Kuṇḍa-Lakṣmī; seasonal motifs (flowers, ripe grains) indicate ṛtumati auspiciousness; subtle three-guṇa symbolism (three colored rays).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, central square kuṇḍa with stylized flames; within the flames a serene Lakṣmī figure appears as a vision, surrounded by lotus and seasonal flora; three radiating bands suggesting sattva-rajas-tamas; priest in traditional attire offering ghee.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Lakṣmī emerging as a golden vision from the homa fire, heavy gold work on halo and ornaments, lotus motifs, priest at the side with ladle, abundance symbols (grains, kalasha) arranged symmetrically.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, diagrammatic yet devotional: top-down kuṇḍa with central meditated Lakṣmī, annotations for ‘dhyāna’ and ‘homa’, three subtle color washes for guṇas, clean lines and soft shading.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined interior ritual scene; the kuṇḍa glows and within it a translucent Lakṣmī apparition; attendants hold flower baskets and grain sheaves; delicate rendering of smoke and light beams in three hues."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Shree","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कुण्डलक्ष्मीः = कुण्ड-लक्ष्मीः; प्रकृतिस्त्रिगुणात्मका = प्रकृतिः + त्रिगुणात्मका (visarga sandhi: ः + त् → स् + त्).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 34 (Agneya-vidyā: homa and deity-visualization); Agni Purana passages identifying deities with tattvas/guṇas
FAQs
It teaches a homa-vidhi detail: before offering oblations, the practitioner should perform dhyāna (focused visualization) of Lakṣmī seated/present within the kuṇḍa, treating her as the kuṇḍa’s presiding auspicious power (Kuṇḍa-Lakṣmī).
It fuses ritual technology (homa procedure and deity-dhyāna) with philosophical taxonomy (Lakṣmī identified with Prakṛti and the triguṇas), showing how the Agni Purana integrates pūjā-vidhi with Sāṅkhya-style metaphysics.
By invoking Lakṣmī as the triguṇa-Prakṛti within the sacred fire, the homa is framed as both outer offering and inner alignment with auspicious cosmic power—traditionally aimed at prosperity, purification, and the stabilization of sattvic fortune (śrī).