Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 22
Chapter 56 — दिक्पालयागकथनम्
Account of the Worship of the Guardians of the Directions
नैरृतागच्छ खड्गाढ्य बलवाहनसंयुत इदमर्घ्यमिदं पाद्यं रक्ष त्वं नैरृतीं दिशं
nairṛtāgaccha khaḍgāḍhya balavāhanasaṃyuta idamarghyamidaṃ pādyaṃ rakṣa tvaṃ nairṛtīṃ diśaṃ
Ô gardien du quartier Nairṛta (sud-ouest), viens—armé d’une épée et accompagné d’une monture puissante. Voici l’offrande d’arghya ; voici l’eau pour laver les pieds. Protège la direction Nairṛta (sud-ouest).
Lord Agni (teaching ritual procedure to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Dikpāla-āhvāna with arghya/pādya offerings to secure the Nairṛta (south-west) direction; establishes ritual perimeter and invites the guardian with specified attributes (sword, mount).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Nairṛta-dik-rakṣā: Āhvāna with Arghya and Pādya","lookup_keywords":["Nairṛta","dikpāla","khadga","arghya","pādya"],"quick_summary":"Invite the guardian of the south-west with weapon and vāhana specified; offer arghya and pādya and request protection of the Nairṛta quarter."}
Weapon Type: Sword
Concept: Ritual hospitality (arghya/pādya) to protective powers: honoring guardians to harmonize space and avert vighna.
Application: Before main devatā-pūjā, perform dik-āhvāna with offerings to stabilize the maṇḍala and reduce disturbances (external and internal).
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Dikpala-nyasa / Directional guardians invocation)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Type: Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual maṇḍala with the south-west corner highlighted; a sword-bearing guardian arrives on a powerful mount while the priest presents arghya and pādya, requesting protection of the Nairṛta direction.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized guardian of Nairṛta with gleaming sword, strong vāhana, dynamic arrival at south-west corner of a mandala, priest offering arghya and pādya, bold outlines and earthy reds","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, ornate sword-bearing dikpāla at the south-west, gold embellishments on weapon and ornaments, priest with offering vessels, corner marked with directional motif, rich temple doorway framing","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear didactic layout of mandala with SW labeled ‘Nairṛta’, guardian with sword and mount, priest offering arghya/pādya, fine shading and calm instructional clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly yet ritual scene: guardian on mount entering from SW, detailed vessels for arghya and pādya, geometric floor pattern, delicate borders and calligraphic direction labels"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"protective","suggested_raga":"Shree","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: nairṛtāgaccha = nairṛta + āgaccha; idamarghyamidaṃ = idam + arghyam + idam; balavāhanasaṃyuta is a compound.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 56 (dikpāla-nyāsa and dvāra-rakṣā sequence)
FAQs
It gives a dikpāla-invocation formula: invite the Nairṛta-direction guardian with iconographic cues (sword, powerful mount) and present standard reception offerings—arghya and pādya—requesting protection of the south‑western quarter.
Beyond mythology, it preserves practical liturgy—step-by-step worship protocols (upacāras like arghya/pādya) and directional protection rites—showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of applied ritual technology alongside other sciences.
Honoring the direction-guardian and requesting protection sacralizes space, removes obstacles associated with the south‑west quarter, and is held to support purity, safety, and ritual completion (karma-siddhi) for the worshipper.