Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 30
Ṛग्विधानम् (Ṛgvidhāna) — Applications of Ṛgvedic Mantras through Japa and Homa
ऊर्ध्वबाहुरनेनैव स्तुत्वा सम्भुं तथैव च मानस्तोकेति च ऋचा शिखाबन्धे कृते नरः
ūrdhvabāhuranenaiva stutvā sambhuṃ tathaiva ca mānastoketi ca ṛcā śikhābandhe kṛte naraḥ
বাহু ঊর্ধ্বে তুলে এইভাবেই শম্ভু (শিব)-কে স্তব করুক। আর শিখা-বন্ধন করতে করতে ‘মা নঃ স্তোকে…’ আরম্ভ ঋক্টি পাঠ করুক।
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, as typical for Agni Purāṇa instruction sections)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Stotra","practical_application":"Daily personal observance: praise Śiva with raised arms; while tying the śikhā, recite the specified Ṛgvedic mantra (‘mā naḥ stoke…’) as a protective/auspicious act.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Śikhā-bandha with ‘Mā naḥ stoke…’ Ṛk and Śambhu-stuti (Ūrdhva-bāhu)","lookup_keywords":["ūrdhva-bāhu","Śambhu stuti","śikhā-bandha","mā naḥ stoke","ṛk"],"quick_summary":"Combine bodily gesture (raised arms) with Śiva-praise, and seal the act by reciting the ‘mā naḥ stoke…’ Ṛk during śikhā-tying. The entry encodes a portable, daily protective piety."}
Alamkara Type: Stotra (bhakti-prayoga; not a classical alaṅkāra lesson)
Concept: Ācāra (daily discipline) sanctifies the body through mantra and gesture; bodily acts become carriers of sacred speech.
Application: Perform śikhā-bandha mindfully with Vedic recitation; use gesture-based stuti to focus attention and devotion.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Mantra-prayoga and personal ritual observances)
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A dvija worshipper stands with arms raised in praise to Śambhu; beside him, he ties his topknot (śikhā) while reciting a Ṛgvedic verse, with a subtle aura of protection around the head.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Śiva (Śambhu) as calm presence in the background, devotee with raised arms, clear depiction of śikhā-bandha gesture, sacred syllables as stylized script motifs around the head, warm earthy palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, Śiva icon in a small shrine niche with gold halo, devotee in foreground raising arms, second moment showing śikhā tying, gold embossing on halo and ornaments, auspicious lamps","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional two-panel composition: (1) ūrdhva-bāhu stuti posture, (2) close-up of hands tying śikhā; fine lines, minimal background, readable ritual clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, domestic prayer room, devotee standing with raised arms facing a small Śiva-linga shrine, attendant holding water pot, detailed textiles, subtle calligraphic band representing the Ṛk during śikhā tying"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ऊर्ध्वबाहुरनेनैव→ऊर्ध्वबाहुः + अनेन + एव; तथैव→तथा + एव; मानस्तोकेति→मानस्तोक + इति
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Puja-vidhi sections on nitya-karma, śikhā/ācamanā/mantra-nyāsa (near 258)
FAQs
It prescribes a specific ritual procedure: raise the arms and praise Śiva (Śambhu), and during śikhā-bandha (tying the topknot) recite the Ṛgvedic ṛk that begins “mā naḥ stoke…”, using Vedic recitation as a protective/auspicious adjunct to a bodily rite.
It shows the Agni Purāṇa’s characteristic synthesis: Purāṇic Śaiva devotion (stuti of Śambhu), Vedic mantra-prayoga (citation of a specific Ṛk), and practical daily-ritual detail (śikhā-bandha), blending liturgy, mantra, and conduct in a single instruction.
By combining Śiva-stuti with a Vedic protective verse at the moment of śikhā-bandha, the act is framed as sanctifying the body and mind, invoking divine protection and auspiciousness, and supporting ritual purity and merit (puṇya) through correct mantra-linked conduct.