Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 18
Trailokya-mohinī Śrī-Lakṣmī-ādi-pūjā and Durgā-yoga
Protective and Siddhi Rites
यजेद्यथोक्तं तां देवीं पीठञ्चैवाङ्गमध्यगम् ॐ ह्रीं दुर्गे रक्षणि स्वाहा चेति दुर्गायै नमः वरवर्ण्यै नमः आर्यायै कनकप्रभायै कृत्तिकायै अभयप्रदायै कन्यकायै सुरूपायै पत्रस्थाः पूजयेदेता मूर्तीराद्यैः स्वरैः क्रमात्
yajedyathoktaṃ tāṃ devīṃ pīṭhañcaivāṅgamadhyagam oṃ hrīṃ durge rakṣaṇi svāhā ceti durgāyai namaḥ varavarṇyai namaḥ āryāyai kanakaprabhāyai kṛttikāyai abhayapradāyai kanyakāyai surūpāyai patrasthāḥ pūjayedetā mūrtīrādyaiḥ svaraiḥ kramāt
He should worship that Goddess exactly as prescribed, and also worship the Pīṭha established in the midst of the limbs (that is, set within the body through nyāsa). Reciting: “Oṃ hrīṃ, O Durgā the Protectress—svāhā,” he should then offer salutations: “Obeisance to Durgā; obeisance to the most excellent in complexion; obeisance to the Noble One of golden radiance; to Kṛttikā; to the Bestower of fearlessness; to the Virgin Maiden; to the Beautiful-formed One.” These embodied forms, placed upon leaves as supports of worship, should be honored in due sequence with the initial vowels (beginning from ‘a’).
Lord Agni (instructing Sage Vasiṣṭha in ritual procedure)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Durga-puja with nyasa (pitha in the body), mantra-japa, and sequential worship of Devi’s epithets/forms using patra (leaf) supports and svara-matrika order.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Durga-Pitha-Nyasa and Matrika-Patra-Puja (A-varga order)","lookup_keywords":["Durga rakshini mantra","pitha nyasa","patra puja","matrika svara a","Durga namavali"],"quick_summary":"Worship Durga with the ‘Om hrim Durge rakshini svaha’ mantra, install the pitha through nyasa, then honor specific epithets/forms placed on leaves in the order of the initial vowels (a, ā, i…)."}
Alamkara Type: Anuprasa (repetitive salutation formula ‘namah’), Namavali-style enumeration
Concept: Deity is approached through mantra, nyasa, and matrika-order—outer worship mirrors inner embodiment of Shakti.
Application: Use structured recitation (namavali) and body-installation (nyasa) to stabilize attention and protective intent during Devi-puja.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Durga/Devi Tantra-Mantra and Pitha-puja)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritualist performs Durga-puja: leaf-plates arranged with written vowels (a, ā, i…), each bearing a symbolic form/epithet of the Goddess; the practitioner touches limbs in nyasa while reciting ‘Om hrim Durge rakshini svaha’.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, Durga as radiant protectress, ritualist seated before patra-leaves inscribed with matrika vowels, warm mineral pigments, stylized lotus motifs, serene shanta mood.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Durga enthroned with halo and gold leaf work, surrounding leaf-plates with matrika letters, priest performing nyasa gestures, rich reds and greens, ornate jewelry.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, instructional composition: sequence of leaf-plates labeled a-ā-i-ī, priest doing anganyasa, Durga’s epithets shown as small vignettes, delicate lines and soft shading.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly precision: a yogin-priest in a pavilion with leaf-offerings laid in order, calligraphic Sanskrit vowels, Durga appearing as a protective vision, fine detailing and balanced geometry."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: yajed+yathoktam→yajedyathoktaṃ; pīṭham+ca+eva→pīṭhañcaiva; eva+aṅgamadhyagam→evāṅgamadhyagam; mūrtīḥ+ādyaiḥ→mūrtīrādyaiḥ; mantra-phrases kept as separate padas (oṃ, hrīṃ, svāhā, iti).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 307 (Durga-puja, raksha-kalpa, nyasa/matrika context)
FAQs
It teaches a Durga-puja sequence: establish/worship the Devi and her pīṭha via body-centered placement (nyāsa), recite the protective mantra “oṃ hrīṃ durge rakṣaṇi svāhā,” then offer a chain of namaskāras to specific Devi-epithets, worshipping the forms arranged on leaves in an ordered, vowel-sequence (ādyaiḥ svaraiḥ).
Beyond narrative theology, it preserves a practical ritual manual: mantra-usage, nyāsa-like internal placement, icon/form worship logistics (patra-sthā mūrtis), and systematic ordering rules (vowel sequence). This is characteristic of the Agni Purana’s wide coverage of applied religious technologies.
The rite frames Durgā as “rakṣaṇī” (protectress) and “abhaya-pradā” (giver of fearlessness), implying protection, removal of obstacles and fear, and merit gained through disciplined, correctly ordered worship (yathoktam, kramāt).