Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 19
Nīrājana-vidhiḥ
Procedure of Nīrājana / Auspicious Lamp-Waving and Royal Propitiation
विनायकः कुमारश् च वरुणो धनदो यमः विश्वेदेवा वैश्रवसो गजाश्चाष्टौ च तान्यजेत्
vināyakaḥ kumāraś ca varuṇo dhanado yamaḥ viśvedevā vaiśravaso gajāścāṣṭau ca tānyajet
One should worship Vināyaka (Gaṇeśa), Kumāra (Skanda), Varuṇa, Dhanada (Kubera), Yama, the Viśvedevās, Vaiśravaṇa (Kubera), and the eight Elephants; these are to be adored.
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Protective/auspicious worship by invoking specific deities and groups (Vināyaka, Kumāra, Varuṇa, Kubera/Dhanada, Yama, Viśvedevās, Vaiśravaṇa, and the eight Diggajas) as guardians for rites, thresholds, and directions.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Rakṣā-devatā list: Vināyaka to Aṣṭa-diggaja","lookup_keywords":["Vināyaka","Kumāra","Varuṇa","Kubera","Aṣṭa-diggaja"],"quick_summary":"A prescribed roster of protective deities is to be worshipped, combining household/ritual guardians and directional stabilizers (eight elephants) for comprehensive rakṣā."}
Concept: Ritual completeness through cosmic administration: obstacles (Vināyaka), martial protection (Skanda), waters (Varuṇa), wealth/guardianship (Kubera), restraint/death-order (Yama), universal gods (Viśvedevāḥ), and spatial stability (diggajāḥ).
Application: Use this list for rakṣā-pūjā before major rites (vrata, homa, praveśa), offering flowers/incense and mentally assigning guardianship to directions.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Mantra-shastra (Protective rites and deity-invocation rules)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A protective worship mandala: Gaṇeśa and Skanda at the front, Varuṇa and Yama to sides, Kubera/Vaiśravaṇa with treasure, Viśvedevās above, and eight great elephants stationed at the directions.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, circular guardian mandala around a central altar, stylized diggajas at eight compass points, Gaṇeśa and Skanda prominent, Varuṇa with water pot, Kubera with treasure, Yama with staff, rich flat colors and temple-wall composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central worship scene with gold halos, eight directional elephant motifs around border, Gaṇeśa and Skanda flanking the altar, Kubera richly jeweled, embossed gold work emphasizing protective circle","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear directional diagram with eight elephants labeled, deities arranged for rakṣā-pūjā, neat linework and soft shading suitable for instructional depiction","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly detailed figures of deities in cloud frames, eight elephants at margins indicating directions, priest offering flowers at a small altar, intricate patterns and balanced composition"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कुमारश् = कुमारः; गजाश्चाष्टौ = गजाः च अष्टौ (आः + च → आश्च); तान्यजेत् = तान् यजेत् (न् + य् → न्य्)
Related Themes: Agni Purana: dikpāla/dik-devatā and rakṣā-vidhi lists in puja-vidhi chapters; gṛha-devatā worship sections near 267.20
FAQs
It gives a precise ritual roster of deities (individual gods, a deity-class, and cosmological guardians) that are to be invoked/worshipped as part of a prescribed pūjā or sacrificial sequence.
By cataloging deities and cosmological beings used in practice-oriented rites, it functions like a ritual handbook—integrating theology (deva identities), liturgy (who to worship), and cosmology (directional elephants) in a compact instructional format.
Following the correct deity-invocation order is presented as aligning the rite with cosmic guardianship and dharma, supporting auspiciousness (śubha), protection, and the intended fruit of the ritual (wealth, order, and removal of obstacles).