Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 17
Nīrājana-vidhiḥ
Procedure of Nīrājana / Auspicious Lamp-Waving and Royal Propitiation
तोरणत्रितयं तत्र गृहे देवान्यजेत् सदा चित्रान्त्यक्त्वा यदा स्वातिं सविता प्रतिपद्यते
toraṇatritayaṃ tatra gṛhe devānyajet sadā citrāntyaktvā yadā svātiṃ savitā pratipadyate
সেখানে তিনটি তোরণ স্থাপন করে গৃহে দেবতাদের সর্বদা পূজা করবে, যখন সূর্য চিত্রার অন্ত অতিক্রম করে স্বাতী নক্ষত্রে প্রবেশ করে।
Lord Agni (in dialogue with Sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Jyotisha","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Choose the correct nakṣatra window for domestic worship: commence/maintain household deva-pūjā with toraṇa installation when the Sun transitions from Citrā to Svātī.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Svātī-kāla for gṛha-devapūjā with toraṇa-traya","lookup_keywords":["Svātī","Citrā","Sūrya saṅkrama","toraṇa","gṛha-pūjā"],"quick_summary":"The rite is keyed to solar nakṣatra timing: after the Sun leaves Citrā and enters Svātī, set up three ceremonial gateways and perform regular household worship."}
Concept: Kāla (astral time) governs efficacy of ritual; auspicious thresholds (toraṇa) sacralize entry and mark the rite’s commencement.
Application: Use pañcāṅga to identify Sūrya’s nakṣatra entry into Svātī; schedule installation of toraṇas and begin/renew household worship accordingly.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Vrata & Nakshatra-kala: timing of domestic worship)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A house entrance decorated with three toraṇas; a family prepares for worship while an almanac indicates the Sun’s shift from Citrā to Svātī.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural aesthetic, domestic shrine room, three floral toraṇas at doorway, palm-leaf pañcāṅga in priest’s hand, subtle celestial band showing Citrā to Svātī transition, warm lamp-lit interior","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, richly ornamented doorway with three toraṇas, gold accents on threshold, family at home altar, symbolic Sun disc moving into Svātī constellation motif, festive auspiciousness","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional layout: doorway with three toraṇas, side panel showing nakṣatra wheel highlighting Citrā and Svātī, calm domestic pūjā setup with clear details","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed courtyard house with decorated gateway, astrologer/priest consulting a manuscript, small sky vignette with Sun and nakṣatra markers, fine textiles and architecture"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: देवान्यजेत् = देवान् यजेत् (न् + य् → न्य्); चित्रान्त्यक्त्वा = चित्राम् त्यक्त्वा (म् + त् → न्त्)
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Vrata-kalpa and nakṣatra-kāla discussions in Puja-vidhi sequence (same chapter cluster)
FAQs
It prescribes a practical muhurta rule: perform household deity-worship with the setting/recognition of three toraṇas when the Sun transitions from Citrā nakṣatra into Svātī.
It blends ritual procedure (pūjā and ceremonial toraṇas) with Jyotiṣa-based timing (nakṣatra transition), showing how the text integrates worship, domestic space-ritual, and calendrical astronomy.
Observing prescribed auspicious timing and proper ritual markers (toraṇas) is presented as a way to align household worship with cosmic order, supporting purity, prosperity, and ritual efficacy.