Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 8
Worship of Gaurī and Others (Gauryādi-pūjā) — Mantra, Maṇḍala, Mudrā, Homa, and Mṛtyuñjaya Kalaśa-Rite
गौरीं यजेद्धेमरूप्यां काष्ठजां शैलजादिकां पञ्चपिण्डां तथाव्यक्तां कोणे मध्ये तु पञ्चमं
gaurīṃ yajeddhemarūpyāṃ kāṣṭhajāṃ śailajādikāṃ pañcapiṇḍāṃ tathāvyaktāṃ koṇe madhye tu pañcamaṃ
গৌৰীৰ পূজা সোণ বা ৰূপৰ প্ৰতিমাৰে, অথবা কাঠ, শিলা আদি বস্তুৰে নিৰ্মিত মূৰ্তিৰে কৰিব লাগে। অব্যক্তসহ পাঁচটা পিণ্ড চাৰিও কোণত স্থাপন কৰি পঞ্চমটো মাজত স্থাপন কৰিব।
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","practical_application":"Selection of murti-material (gold/silver/wood/stone) and mandala-like placement of five ritual piṇḍas with the central bindu for Devī worship and prāṇa-pratiṣṭhā contexts.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Gaurī-mūrti-dravya & pañcapiṇḍa-nyāsa (corner-and-center)","lookup_keywords":["Gaurī","hemarūpya-mūrti","kāṣṭha-śaila","pañcapiṇḍa","avyakta"],"quick_summary":"Gaurī may be worshipped in images made of precious metals or common sculptural media; five piṇḍas are arranged with four at the corners and the avyakta principle placed as the fifth in the center."}
Concept: Integration of vyakta (icon/material form) with avyakta (unmanifest principle) through spatial nyāsa.
Application: During pūjā, treat the central placement as the subtle bindu/avyakta while the corners stabilize the field of worship.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Devi-upasana / Murti-pratishtha and ritual iconography)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: śānta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A shrine pedestal with a Gaurī image (gold/silver/stone/wood) and five ritual piṇḍas arranged: four at the corners and one luminous central piṇḍa signifying avyakta.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, Gaurī in serene stance beside a ritual altar, five piṇḍas marked at four corners and center, rich earthy reds and greens, stylized lotus motifs, sacred geometry subtly indicated.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Gaurī icon with ornate jewelry and halo, gold foil emphasis on the murti and the central piṇḍa, four corner piṇḍas on a decorated pedestal, temple lamp glow.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional composition showing the altar top-view with corner-and-center piṇḍa placement, Gaurī murti to the side, fine linework and soft shading, labeled ritual geometry feel.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly shrine interior with artisans presenting gold/silver/stone icons, five offerings placed in a precise quincunx, delicate architectural borders and patterned floor tiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional-devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: यजेद्धेमरूप्यां = यजेत् + हेमरूप्याम् (त् + ह → द्ध). तथाव्यक्तां = तथा + अव्यक्ताम् (अ + अ → आ).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 325 (Devī-upāsanā, nyāsa/āvaraṇa context)
FAQs
It gives a Devi-puja procedure: permissible icon materials for Gaurī (gold, silver, wood, stone, etc.) and a spatial rule for arranging five piṇḍas—four at the corners and the fifth at the center, with one identified as ‘avyakta’ (a subtle/unmanifest principle).
It illustrates the Agni Purana’s manual-like coverage of applied ritual technology—iconography, material prescriptions, and altar/mandala-style spatial arrangement—showing how the text functions as a compendium of worship methods alongside its many other disciplines.
By worshipping Gaurī with correctly prepared images and properly placed offerings, the rite is considered more ‘complete’ (siddha) and orderly, supporting purification, devotional merit, and alignment with the deity’s cosmic principles (including the subtle ‘unmanifest’).