Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 5
Ayuta–Lakṣa–Koṭi Fire-offerings (अयुतलक्षकोटिहोमाः) — Graha-yajña Vidhi
इन्द्र ऐन्द्री देवता च प्रजेशो ऽहिर्विधिः क्रमात् एते प्रत्यधिदेवाश् च गणेशो दुर्गयानिलः
indra aindrī devatā ca prajeśo 'hirvidhiḥ kramāt ete pratyadhidevāś ca gaṇeśo durgayānilaḥ
Indra, la déesse Aindrī, Prajēśa (Brahmā), Ahi (la puissance serpentine) et Vidhi (l’Ordonnateur—Brahmā) sont mentionnés dans l’ordre prescrit ; ce sont les praty-adhidevatā (divinités présidantes secondaires) correspondantes, avec Gaṇeśa, Durgā et Anila (Vāyu).
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional dialogue framework)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Jyotisha","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Mapping of (praty-)adhidevatās for ritual nyāsa: assigning secondary presiding deities to directions/grahas to complete the protective and functional deity-network in graha rites.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Praty-Adhidevatā Mapping (Indra, Aindrī, Prajeśa, Ahi, Vidhi; with Gaṇeśa, Durgā, Anila)","lookup_keywords":["pratyadhidevata","Aindri","Prajesha","Ahi","Ganesha Durga Anila"],"quick_summary":"Provides a roster of secondary presiding deities used to ‘back’ the main placements in ritual nyāsa, strengthening direction/graha governance and removing obstacles."}
Concept: Layered divinity: primary forces are stabilized by secondary presences (praty-adhidevatā), reflecting a hierarchical cosmology used for effective rites.
Application: In graha/diśā pūjā, include praty-adhidevatā offerings (especially Gaṇeśa/Durgā) to prevent obstacles and ensure rakṣā.
Khanda Section: Jyotisha / Devata-Nyasa and Pratyadhidevata Mapping (Encyclopedic lists of deities)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A maṇḍala with a secondary ring of deities: Indra with vajra, Aindrī beside him, Brahmā (Prajeśa/Vidhi) with four faces, a coiled serpent (Ahi) as power-symbol, Gaṇeśa at the threshold, Durgā as guardian, and Vāyu/Anila as a wind-bearing figure.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, concentric deity ring around a central yantra, Gaṇeśa at the entrance side, Durgā in protective stance, Vāyu as flowing scarf and wind motifs, serpent emblem for Ahi","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold halos and embossed jewelry, Indra-Aindrī paired, Brahmā four-faced, Gaṇeśa richly ornamented, Durgā with weapons, Vāyu with fluttering drapery, ornate border","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, didactic layout labeling each praty-adhidevatā, clean spacing, soft shading, emphasis on recognizable attributes","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, ritual diagram on a carpet with painted deity medallions, Indra and Aindrī as royal couple, Brahmā as sage-king, serpent motif, Gaṇeśa and Durgā as guardians, delicate linework"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: प्रजेशो ऽहिर्विधिः = प्रजेशः + अहिः + विधिः; प्रत्यधिदेवाश् = प्रत्यधिदेवाः; दुर्गयानिलः = दुर्गया + अनिलः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Nyāsa and āvaraṇa-devatā listings in ritual chapters; Agni Purana: Vighna-śānti/gaṇeśa-pūjā preliminaries
FAQs
It supplies a keyed list of praty-adhidevatās—paired presiding deities used for ritual placement (nyāsa), meditative installation, and correspondence-based worship schemes common to Jyotiṣa and tantric-style upāsanā.
By cataloging deity correspondences (Indra–Aindrī, Prajēśa/Vidhi, Ahi, etc.) it functions like a reference index for practitioners—typical of the Agni Purana’s compendium style that preserves lists, mappings, and technical nomenclature across ritual sciences.
Correctly knowing and invoking the appropriate presiding and counter-presiding deities is held to make worship ‘accurate’ (yathā-vidhi), removing obstacles (Gaṇeśa), granting protection (Durgā), and aligning the practitioner with cosmic forces (Indra/Vāyu), thereby supporting purification and efficacy of rites.