Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 13
Worship of Gaurī and Others (Gauryādi-pūjā) — Mantra, Maṇḍala, Mudrā, Homa, and Mṛtyuñjaya Kalaśa-Rite
वामेन पुस्तताम्बूलदण्डाभयकमण्डलुम् गणेशदर्पणेष्वासान्दद्यादेकैकशः क्रमात्
vāmena pustatāmbūladaṇḍābhayakamaṇḍalum gaṇeśadarpaṇeṣvāsāndadyādekaikaśaḥ kramāt
বাওঁ হাতে ক্ৰমে একে একে গণেশ-মূর্তিত পুথি, তাম্বূল, দণ্ড, অভয়-মুদ্ৰা আৰু কমণ্ডলু; লগতে দৰ্পণ আৰু ধনু বিন্যাস কৰিব।
Lord Agni (teaching the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s instructional dialogue)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","practical_application":"Assigning specific āyudha/upa-cāra attributes to Gaṇeśa during pratimā-pratiṣṭhā and pūjā so the icon is ritually ‘completed’ and worship is standardized.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Gaṇeśa-hasta-vinyāsa (assignment of book, tāmbūla, daṇḍa, abhaya, kamaṇḍalu, darpaṇa, īṣvāsa)","lookup_keywords":["Gaṇeśa","hasta-vinyāsa","āyudha","darpaaṇa","īṣvāsa"],"quick_summary":"The verse gives an ordered placement of implements/gestures for Gaṇeśa’s icon, ensuring correct iconographic completeness and ritual consistency in installation and worship."}
Weapon Type: Bow (īṣvāsa)
Concept: Ritual efficacy depends on correct form (rūpa) and correct assignment (vinyāsa) of divine attributes.
Application: Use a fixed checklist during pratimā-nyāsa/pratiṣṭhā so no attribute is omitted or misplaced.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Iconography and ritual installation of deities)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A priest performs iconographic assignment to a seated Gaṇeśa image, indicating each implement—book, betel, staff, abhaya gesture, water-pot, mirror, and bow—in a clear ritual sequence.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, warm earthy palette, seated Gaṇeśa with multiple arms, priest in white mundu performing hasta-vinyāsa, labeled implements (pustaka, tāmbūla, daṇḍa, kamaṇḍalu, darpaṇa, īṣvāsa), sanctum ambience, flat decorative detailing.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Gaṇeśa richly ornamented with gold foil highlights, prominent abhaya-mudrā, book and kamaṇḍalu visible, mirror and bow placed as attributes, temple arch frame, deep reds and greens, jeweled halo.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean linework and instructional clarity, Gaṇeśa icon with each attribute clearly separated, priest pointing in sequence, minimal background, soft shading.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, fine detailing, a ritual chamber with attendants, Gaṇeśa icon on a pedestal, implements arranged and being assigned one-by-one, delicate textiles and architectural borders, subdued palette with precise outlines."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पुस्तताम्बूलदण्डाभयकमण्डलुम् इति समुच्चयः—पदानि पृथक्: पुस्त + ताम्बूल + दण्ड + अभय + कमण्डलुम्। गणेशदर्पणेषु = गणेश + दर्पणेषु। दद्यादेकैकशः = दद्याद् + एकैकशः।
Related Themes: Agni Purana 325 (pūjā-vidhi, mudrā/maṇḍala, pratiṣṭhā context)
FAQs
It teaches pratima-lakṣaṇa and pūjā-vidhi: the correct, sequential placement/assignment of Gaṇeśa’s identifying implements (book, tāmbūla, staff, abhaya-mudrā, kamaṇḍalu, mirror, bow) as part of iconographic setup and worship.
Beyond myth, the Agni Purāṇa functions as a manual for applied religion—covering temple craft, iconography, and liturgy. This verse is a technical micro-instruction on deity-attribute assignment, exemplifying its practical, procedural coverage of ritual arts.
Correctly honoring Gaṇeśa with proper attributes and order is treated as ritual correctness (vidhi), supporting obstacle-removal, auspicious beginnings, and the accrual of merit through disciplined, tradition-aligned worship.