Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 6
Chapter 300 — सूर्यार्चनम्
Worship of Sūrya
दन्तभक्षधरं रक्तं साब्जं पाशाड्कुशैर् वृतम् पूजयेत्तं चतुर्थ्याञ्च विशेषेनाथ नित्यशः
dantabhakṣadharaṃ raktaṃ sābjaṃ pāśāḍkuśair vṛtam pūjayettaṃ caturthyāñca viśeṣenātha nityaśaḥ
Man soll jene rote Gestalt verehren, die einen Stoßzahn trägt und einen (abgebrochenen) Zahn hält, zusammen mit einem Lotos, umgeben/begleitet von Schlinge (pāśa) und Elefantenhaken (aṅkuśa) — besonders am vierten Mondtag (Caturthī) und auch täglich.
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Guides Caturthī worship of a specific red Gaṇeśa form with defined attributes for daily and special observance.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Caturthī-pūjā of Rakta Gaṇeśa with danta and pāśa-aṅkuśa attendants","lookup_keywords":["Caturthī","rakta-gaṇeśa","danta","padma","pāśa-aṅkuśa"],"quick_summary":"Prescribes worship of a red Gaṇeśa form—bearing tusk/tooth and lotus, attended by noose and goad—especially on the lunar fourth day and also as a daily practice."}
Concept: Kāla-viśeṣa (sacred timing) intensifies ritual efficacy; nitya-pūjā sustains continuity of sādhana.
Application: Perform Gaṇeśa worship daily, with heightened vrata observance on Caturthī (offerings, dhyāna, japa, and upacāras aligned to the red form).
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Ganesha/Durga-related upasana and vrata instructions)
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A red-hued Gaṇeśa worship scene on Caturthī: deity shown with tooth/tusk attribute and lotus, with pāśa and aṅkuśa as implements; devotees offering flowers and lamps.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural of Rakta Gaṇeśa with lotus and tooth attribute, flanked by symbolic pāśa and aṅkuśa motifs, devotees performing Caturthī pūjā with deepa and pushpa, strong outlines, earthy reds.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore panel of red Gaṇeśa, heavy gold ornamentation, lotus in hand, tooth/tusk emphasized, pāśa-aṅkuśa displayed; foreground with pūjā tray (lamp, flowers), ornate arch and halo.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting showing Caturthī vrata setting: calendar moon-fourth motif, devotee seated with offerings, red Gaṇeśa icon with lotus and tooth; fine linework, soft pastel shading.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature of a shrine interior: red Gaṇeśa idol with lotus and tooth, attendants holding pāśa and aṅkuśa, worshipper presenting offerings; intricate carpet patterns and floral border."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: साब्जं = स-अब्जम्; पाशाड्कुशैर् (पाठभेद) = पाश-अङ्कुशैः; चतुर्थ्याञ्च = चतुर्थ्याम् + च; पूजयेत्तं = पूजयेत् + तम्
Related Themes: Agni Purana 300 (Gaṇeśa/Durgā upāsanā; vrata and pūjā-vidhi subsections)
FAQs
It prescribes a specific iconographic form (red hue; tusk/tooth; lotus; noose and goad) and the ritual timing: worship especially on Caturthī and also as a daily practice.
It functions as a compact ritual manual entry—combining deity-iconography (āyudha/attributes) with calendrical observance (tithi-based worship), showing how the text catalogs practical worship procedures alongside other sciences.
Regular worship, with heightened observance on Caturthī, is presented as a disciplined devotional act (nitya-pūjā and tithi-viśeṣa) that supports purification, steadiness of mind, and the accrual of religious merit through correct ritual performance.