Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 1
Gaṇeśa-pūjā-vidhiḥ
The Procedure for Worship of Gaṇeśa
इत्य् आदिमाहापुराणे आग्नेये पादपारामप्रतिष्ठाकथनं नाम सप्ततितमो ऽध्यायः अथ एकसप्ततितमो ऽध्यायः गणेशपूजाविधिः ऐश्वर उवाच गणपूजां प्रवक्ष्यामि निर्विघ्नामखिलार्थदां गणाय स्वाहा हृदयमेकदंष्ट्राय वै शिरः
ity ādimāhāpurāṇe āgneye pādapārāmapratiṣṭhākathanaṃ nāma saptatitamo 'dhyāyaḥ atha ekasaptatitamo 'dhyāyaḥ gaṇeśapūjāvidhiḥ aiśvara uvāca gaṇapūjāṃ pravakṣyāmi nirvighnāmakhilārthadāṃ gaṇāya svāhā hṛdayamekadaṃṣṭrāya vai śiraḥ
Ainsi, dans l’Agni Purāṇa, au sein du Mahāpurāṇa primordial, s’achève le soixante-dixième chapitre intitulé «Récit de l’établissement de l’état suprême par la ‘pāda-pārāma-pratiṣṭhā’». Commence maintenant le soixante et onzième chapitre : «Procédure du culte de Gaṇeśa». Īśvara dit : «J’exposerai l’adoration de Gaṇa (Gaṇeśa), qui écarte les obstacles et accorde tous les buts. (Accomplir le nyāsa :) “À Gaṇa, svāhā”—c’est le cœur; “à l’Un-Dent (Ekadaṃṣṭra)”—c’est la tête».
Īśvara (as the instructing voice in this chapter’s ritual teaching)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Gaṇeśa pūjā with mantra-nyāsa for obstacle removal and attainment of aims; assigns specific mantras to bodily loci (hṛdaya, śiras) as part of ritual internalization.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Mantra","entry_title":"Gaṇeśa-pūjā: Nyāsa mantras for hṛdaya and śiras (Gaṇāya svāhā; Ekadaṃṣṭrāya)","lookup_keywords":["Gaṇeśa-pūjā","nyāsa","Gaṇāya svāhā","Ekadaṃṣṭra","nirvighna"],"quick_summary":"Introduces Gaṇeśa worship as obstacle-removing and goal-granting, beginning with nyāsa: ‘Gaṇāya svāhā’ for the heart and ‘Ekadaṃṣṭrāya’ for the head."}
Concept: Nyāsa internalizes deity and mantra into the practitioner’s body, aligning intention and removing impediments (vighna).
Application: Before major undertakings (ritual, study, travel, building), perform brief Gaṇeśa nyāsa and pūjā to cultivate focus, auspiciousness, and steadiness.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Ganesha worship; mantra-nyasa and obstacle-removal rites)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Opening of a new chapter: Īśvara instructs on Gaṇeśa worship; a practitioner performs nyāsa touching heart and head while visualizing Ekadaṃṣṭra Gaṇeśa, preparing for obstacle-free rites.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Gaṇeśa as Ekadaṃṣṭra seated with calm majesty, devotee performing nyāsa touching heart and head, Īśvara as teacher figure in background, temple interior tones","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central Ekadaṃṣṭra Gaṇeśa with gold halo and ornate jewelry, devotee in front performing nyāsa gestures, rich lamps and arch, auspicious beginning motif","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear instructional depiction of nyāsa: hand to heart labeled ‘Gaṇāya svāhā’, hand to head labeled ‘Ekadaṃṣṭrāya’, Gaṇeśa icon to the side, fine lines and soft colors","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate indoor teaching scene: Īśvara instructing, scribe with manuscript heading of chapter, devotee performing nyāsa, small Gaṇeśa icon with one tusk, delicate borders"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Ganesha-focused: Hamsadhwani","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: इत्य् → इति; सप्ततितमो ऽध्यायः → सप्ततितमः + अध्यायः; एकसप्ततितमो ऽध्यायः → एक-सप्ततितमः + अध्यायः; अखिलार्थदां → अखिल-अर्थ-दाम्; हृदयमेकदंष्ट्राय → हृदयम् + एक-दंष्ट्राय.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 71 (Gaṇeśa-pūjā-vidhi continues beyond opening nyāsa); Agni Purana 70 (preceding pratiṣṭhā topics; transition colophon)
FAQs
It introduces Gaṇeśa-pūjā and begins mantra-nyāsa: assigning specific mantras to body-locations—“gaṇāya svāhā” to the heart and “ekadaṃṣṭrāya” to the head—used to make rites nirvighna (free from obstacles).
It exemplifies the Agni Purāṇa’s practical ritual manual aspect by preserving procedural details (vidhi) like nyāsa, mantra-usage, and deity-specific preliminaries—alongside its many other domains (temple practice, dharma, polity, arts).
By commencing worship with Gaṇeśa and performing nyāsa, the practitioner ritually ‘seals’ the body with mantra-power, seeking obstacle-removal and successful completion of intended rites and life-aims (akhilārtha-siddhi).