Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 5
Nīrājana-vidhiḥ
Procedure of Nīrājana / Auspicious Lamp-Waving and Royal Propitiation
एकादश्यां सोपवासो द्वादश्यां केतुमुत्थितम् यजेद्वस्त्रादिसंवीतं घटस्थं सुरपं शचीं
ekādaśyāṃ sopavāso dvādaśyāṃ ketumutthitam yajedvastrādisaṃvītaṃ ghaṭasthaṃ surapaṃ śacīṃ
একাদশীতে উপবাস করবে। দ্বাদশীতে (উপবাস ভেঙে) উঠে কেতুর পূজা করবে; এবং বস্ত্রাদি দ্বারা সজ্জিত, ঘটস্থ দেবাধিপ (ইন্দ্র) এর প্রিয়া শচীরও পূজা করবে।
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha in ritual procedure, typical Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Tithi-based vrata sequence: fast on Ekādaśī, perform worship on Dvādaśī—honoring Ketu and invoking Śacī in a kalaśa with garments and offerings—used for protection, auspiciousness, and royal/household welfare.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Ekādaśī Upavāsa & Dvādaśī Ketu-Śacī Kalaśa-pūjā","lookup_keywords":["ekādaśī-upavāsa","dvādaśī","ketu-pūjā","śacī-kalaśa","ghaṭastha-devī"],"quick_summary":"Observe fasting on the 11th lunar day, then on the 12th worship Ketu and Śacī invoked in a consecrated pot, offering cloth and adornments as part of a protective auspicious rite."}
Concept: Saṃyama (fasting discipline) followed by upacāra (offering) as a two-step purification and propitiation model.
Application: Use Ekādaśī restraint to prepare mind/body, then perform structured Dvādaśī worship with a consecrated kalaśa and prescribed offerings for graha-devatā appeasement.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Vrata & Devata-archana procedures)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A devotee/king fasting on Ekādaśī, then on Dvādaśī performing pūjā: a decorated kalaśa draped in cloth representing Śacī, alongside a Ketu emblem/yantra; offerings of flowers, incense, and lamps.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, ritual interior with kalaśa wrapped in bright cloth, priest offering lamp, Ketu symbol as serpent-flag motif on a panel, subdued sacred ambiance, traditional mural contours","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, richly adorned kalaśa with gold highlights and silk cloth, Śacī suggested through icon panel behind, Ketu yantra/emblem, heavy gold work on vessels and ornaments","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional altar layout: kalaśa, vastra, flowers, lamp, Ketu yantra placed clearly, fine linework and gentle colors","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate indoor worship scene with detailed utensils and textiles, kalaśa as central object, astrologer-priest present, Ketu emblem on a small standard, delicate architectural framing"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: sopavāso → sa-upavāsaḥ; ketumutthitam → ketum utthitam; yajedvastrādisaṃvītaṃ → yajet vastra-ādi-saṃvītam; ghaṭasthaṃ → ghaṭa-stham; surapaṃ → sura-pam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana graha-śānti and kalaśa-nyāsa/pūjā procedures (elsewhere in ritual sections); Agni Purana nīrājana/utsava-related chapters around 267
FAQs
It prescribes a tithi-based vrata sequence: fasting on Ekādaśī, then on Dvādaśī performing worship of Ketu and Śacī using kalasha-invocation (ghaṭastha) and offering garments and related upacāras.
It demonstrates the text’s practical ritual manual aspect—linking calendrical observance (tithi), Navagraha-related worship (Ketu), and structured pūjā technology (kalasha-sthāpana and upacāras) within a single concise instruction.
The pairing of fasting with prescribed worship functions as a purification-and-merit practice (vrata), aiming to pacify afflictive influences (especially graha-related) and to gain auspiciousness through disciplined observance and correct ritual performance.