Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 20
Nīrājana-vidhiḥ
Procedure of Nīrājana / Auspicious Lamp-Waving and Royal Propitiation
कुमुदैरावणौ पद्मः पुष्पदन्तश् च वामनः सुप्रतीको ऽञ्जनो नीलः पूजा कार्या गृहादिके
kumudairāvaṇau padmaḥ puṣpadantaś ca vāmanaḥ supratīko 'ñjano nīlaḥ pūjā kāryā gṛhādike
Kumuda, Airāvaṇa, Padma, Puṣpadanta, Vāmana, Supratīka, Añjana, and Nīla—these should be worshipped in rites pertaining to the house and its related spaces and structures.
Lord Agni (in dialogue with sage Vasiṣṭha, the standard Agni Purāṇa narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"House/threshold protection by worshipping the eight diggajas (named here) in relation to the home and its associated structures, integrating Vāstu-directional guardians into daily or occasion-based gṛha rites.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Aṣṭa-diggaja names for gṛha-ādi pūjā","lookup_keywords":["Kumuda","Airāvaṇa","Padma","Puṣpadanta","Supratīka"],"quick_summary":"The verse supplies the eight directional elephants’ names and instructs their worship for the house and related spaces, functioning as a Vāstu-rakṣā measure."}
Concept: Spatial sacralization: aligning built space with cosmic direction-guardians is a practical theology of order (ṛta) applied to habitation.
Application: During gṛha-praveśa, renovation, or periodic śānti, offer flowers/incense to the eight directions naming these diggajas; optionally mark directions on the floor-plan and perform dik-bandhana.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Griha-devata & Vastu-related worship; household/threshold guardians)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A house plan or courtyard with eight directions indicated; at each direction stands a named elephant guardian receiving offerings, protecting the dwelling and its gateways.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized house/maṇḍapa with compass directions, eight majestic elephants (Kumuda, Airāvaṇa, Padma, Puṣpadanta, Vāmana, Supratīka, Añjana, Nīla) placed around, priest offering flowers at each direction, bold outlines and temple-wall symmetry","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central gṛha-devatā altar with gold, border ring of eight elephant guardians with name cartouches, ornate doorway motifs, rich reds and greens with embossed gold highlights","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional diagram: floor-plan with eight directional markers, each elephant guardian illustrated and labeled, calm palette and precise detailing of thresholds and gateways","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtyard scene with attendants placing offerings at eight points, elephants depicted as symbolic guardians in the margins, fine architectural rendering of the house and gateway, delicate brushwork"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Madhyamavati","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कुमुदैरावणौ = कुमुद-ऐरावणौ (द्वन्द्व); पुष्पदन्तश् = पुष्पदन्तः; ऽञ्जनः = अञ्जनः (अवग्रह); गृहादिके = गृह-आदिके
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Vāstu and gṛha-devatā worship passages; dikpāla/dik-bandhana material in puja-vidhi cluster
FAQs
It gives a practical pūjā-list: specific named guardian beings (Kumuda, Airāvaṇa, Padma, etc.) are to be propitiated as part of gṛha-ādi (house and allied spaces) worship, functioning as a Vāstu/household protection rite.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purāṇa catalogs applied ritual procedures for everyday life—here, domestic and spatial rites (gṛha-ādi pūjā) with enumerated entities—showing its manual-like coverage of Vāstu and household liturgy alongside many other disciplines.
Performing these gṛha-ādi pūjās is presented as a means of sanctifying one’s dwelling, securing auspiciousness, and averting obstacles—aligning the home with dharma through orderly propitiation of protective presences.