Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 28
Rājābhiṣeka-kathana
Account of the Royal Consecration
तं पश्येद्दर्पणं राजा घृतं वै मङ्गलादिकं अभ्यर्च्य विष्णुं ब्रह्माणमिन्द्रादींश् च ग्रहेश्वरान्
taṃ paśyeddarpaṇaṃ rājā ghṛtaṃ vai maṅgalādikaṃ abhyarcya viṣṇuṃ brahmāṇamindrādīṃś ca graheśvarān
Having duly worshipped Viṣṇu, Brahmā, Indra, and the other lords of the planets, the king should then look upon that mirror, and upon ghee (ghṛta) and other auspicious substances, beginning with those that confer good fortune.
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Jyotisha","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Graha-śānti and royal maṅgala: worship planetary lords and then perform auspicious ‘darśana’ of mirror and ghee to secure favorable omens.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Graheśvara-pūjā with darpaṇa & ghṛta maṅgala-darśana","lookup_keywords":["graha shanti","graheśvara","darpaṇa darśana","ghṛta maṅgala","viṣṇu brahmā indra pūjā"],"quick_summary":"After worshipping Viṣṇu, Brahmā, Indra and the planetary lords, the king takes auspicious sight of a mirror and ghee—standard maṅgala objects used to stabilize fortune and avert graha-doṣa."}
Dosha: Tridosha
Concept: Dṛṣṭi (auspicious seeing) and devatā-graha-samarpaṇa are tools to align human action with cosmic order.
Application: In major undertakings, begin with devatā-pūjā and controlled maṅgala-darśana to cultivate steadiness and confidence (ritual-psychological efficacy).
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Mangala-karmani / Graha-shanti and royal auspicious rites)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"The king, after worship, gazes into a polished mirror placed on a stand; nearby are a bowl of ghee and other maṅgala items; representations of Viṣṇu, Brahmā, Indra, and navagrahas are honored with flowers and lamps.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, king before ritual altar, mirror on pedestal reflecting face, ghee lamp and bowl, navagraha icons in a row, rich ochres and greens, symmetrical sacred layout","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, king with ornate jewelry, mirror with gold border, ghee vessel highlighted with gold leaf, deities framed above, dense decorative motifs","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean instructional depiction: sequence panels—pūjā to Viṣṇu/Brahmā/Indra, then graha worship, then mirror-and-ghee darśana; soft palette and precise lines","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, court ritual interior, mirror catching light, attendants holding trays with ghee and flowers, delicate architectural arches, fine detailing"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पश्येद्दर्पणं = पश्येत् + दर्पणम्; ब्रह्माणमिन्द्रादींश् = ब्रह्माणम् + इन्द्रादीन् + च (श्च-लेखन).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 218 (graha-śānti/maṅgala-karmāṇi steps); Agni Purana graha chapters (navagraha names, śānti methods)
FAQs
It prescribes a royal maṅgala-rite: after worshipping major deities and the graha-lords, the king performs auspicious ‘darśana’ (viewing) of a mirror and ghee—items used as शुभ-लक्षण (good-omen indicators) within graha-śānti and maṅgala-karmas.
Alongside theology, it preserves applied ritual protocol for governance—how a king should conduct auspicious observances connected to planetary powers (grahas), integrating pūjā-vidhi, omenology (maṅgala-lakṣaṇa), and Jyotiṣa-oriented propitiation.
Worship of Viṣṇu, Brahmā, Indra and the graha-deities is meant to harmonize divine and planetary influences; the subsequent auspicious viewing acts as a consecrating confirmation (śubha-darśana) intended to remove obstacles and stabilize prosperity and righteous rule.