Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 26
Chapter 312 — Various Mantras (नानामन्त्राः)
नित्याभया मङ्गला च नववीरा च मङ्गला दुर्भगा मनोन्मनी पूज्या द्रावा पूर्वादितः स्थिता
nityābhayā maṅgalā ca navavīrā ca maṅgalā durbhagā manonmanī pūjyā drāvā pūrvāditaḥ sthitā
هي نِتْيَابْهَيَا (دائمةُ اللّا خوف)، ومَنْغَلَا (ذاتُ اليُمن)، ونَفَفِيرَا (ذاتُ البطولةِ ذاتِ التسعةِ أوجه)، وهي أيضًا مَنْغَلَا (واهبةُ البِشارةِ الحسنة). وهي دُرْبَهَغَا (مُزيلةُ النحس)، ومَنُونْمَنِي (المتجاوزةُ للعقل)، وبُوجْيَا (المستحقةُ للعبادة)، ودْرَافَا (المُذيبةُ للعوائق)، وهي قائمةٌ مُستقرةٌ ابتداءً من جهةِ الشرق وما يليها.
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional dialogue style)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Stotra","secondary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","practical_application":"Protective recitation of Devi-epithets during worship, especially for auspiciousness, fearlessness, and removal of misfortune; directional (dik) placement for ritual completeness.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Devi Epithets: Nityabhaya–Mangala–Navavira etc. with Dik-sthiti","lookup_keywords":["Nityabhaya","Mangala","Navavira","Manonmani","dik-sthiti"],"quick_summary":"A compact list of Devi-names used as protective and auspicious invocations, with an indication of her establishment beginning in the East for ritual orientation."}
Alamkara Type: Namavali (epithet-catalogue); mild Anuprasa via repeated Maṅgalā
Concept: Devi as both worldly auspiciousness (maṅgala) and mind-transcending reality (manonmanī).
Application: Use the names as bhāva-support: invoke protection and auspiciousness while cultivating inward transcendence during japa/puja.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Devi-nama-stotra (Goddess epithets for worship and protection)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A Devi shrine with the Goddess invoked through a garland of epithets; worship begins facing East, with subtle directional markers around the sanctum.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural: serene Devi with halo, priests chanting namavali, east-facing lamp and kalasha, directional lotuses around, earthy reds and ochres, flat iconic composition.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting: Devi as Maṅgalā with rich jewelry and gold leaf prabhavali, devotees offering flowers, east-direction indicated by rising sun motif, ornate arch and lamps.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting: instructional puja scene showing worshipper oriented to East, labeled dik markers, Devi seated calmly, delicate lines and soft colors.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: courtly devotional setting with a small sanctum, worshipper facing East, calligraphic cartouche listing epithets, fine detailing and pastel palette."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: No major external sandhi; list of epithets in nominative feminine singular. ‘पूर्वादितः’ analyzed as pūrvādi + -tas (taddhita adverb), functioning adverbially.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 312 (Devi-nama-stotra context); Agni Purana 313–314 (mantra/nyasa continuations in adjacent sections)
FAQs
It provides a ritual list of Devi-epithets used for japa/stotra in worship, along with a directional cue (“beginning with the East”), indicating placement or invocation order in a puja.
It exemplifies the text’s cataloging function: preserving precise liturgical name-lists (nāma/epithet traditions) and practical ritual details (directional sequencing) alongside other disciplines.
Reciting and meditating on these names frames the Goddess as auspicious and fear-dispelling, aiming at protection, removal of obstacles/ill-fortune, and inner transcendence beyond the mind (manonmanī).