Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 13
Chapter 93 — वास्तुपूजादिविधानम्
Procedure for Vāstu-worship and Related Rites
गन्धं गन्धर्वनाथाय जिह्वां भृङ्गाय पक्षिणः मृगाय पद्मपर्णानि याम्यामित्यष्टदेवताः
gandhaṃ gandharvanāthāya jihvāṃ bhṛṅgāya pakṣiṇaḥ mṛgāya padmaparṇāni yāmyāmityaṣṭadevatāḥ
On doit attribuer le parfum (gandha) à Gandharvanātha, la langue à Bhṛṅga, les oiseaux à Mṛga et les feuilles de lotus à Yāmyā : ainsi sont indiquées les huit divinités de ce rite.
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Nyāsa-style ritual assignment: mapping sensory/elemental items (fragrance, tongue, birds, lotus-leaves) to specific deities (Gandharvanātha, Bhṛṅga, Mṛga, Yāmyā) as part of an aṣṭa-devatā framework used to sacralize directions/limbs/offerings in puja.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Aṣṭa-devatā Nyāsa: Assigning Gandha, Jihvā, Pakṣi, Padmaparṇa","lookup_keywords":["aṣṭadevatā nyāsa","Gandharvanātha gandha","Bhṛṅga jihvā","Mṛga pakṣi","Yāmyā padmaparṇa"],"quick_summary":"The verse encodes a nyāsa mapping—assigning specific offerings/attributes to named deities—used to structure a multi-deity rite and ensure each component is ritually ‘placed’ and empowered."}
Concept: Nyāsa as embodied cosmology: senses and offerings are ‘installed’ into devata-forms, turning ordinary faculties (gandha, jihvā) into consecrated instruments of worship.
Application: In puja, consciously dedicate sense-activities (smell, speech/taste) to the divine before offering materials; this disciplines attention and reduces ritual mechanicalness.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Dikpala/Ashtadevata Nyasa and ritual assignments)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual diagram-like scene: a priest points to offerings and symbolic elements—perfume for Gandharvanātha, a tongue emblem for Bhṛṅga, bird symbols for Mṛga, and lotus leaves for Yāmyā—arranged as part of an eight-deity layout.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, circular aṣṭa-devatā arrangement around a central altar, icons for fragrance, tongue, birds, lotus leaves placed at designated points, bold outlines, traditional ornamental borders","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-highlighted mandala-like layout with eight deity placeholders, prominent lotus leaves and perfume vessel, rich jewel tones, embossed gold accents for ritual emblems","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional mandala diagram with elegant figures, labeled placements for gandha/jihvā/pakṣi/padmaparṇa, clean composition suited for teaching nyāsa assignments","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholar-priest demonstrating a ritual chart to disciples, delicate depiction of perfume, lotus leaves, and bird motifs, fine architectural interior, meticulous linework"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shuddha Sarang","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: gandharvanāthāya → गन्धर्व-नाथाय; padmaparṇāni → पद्म-पर्णानि; yāmyāmity → याम्याम् इति; aṣṭadevatāḥ → अष्ट-देवताः
Related Themes: Agni Purana 93 (dikpāla/aṣṭa-devatā assignments and nyāsa-like mappings)
FAQs
It gives a nyāsa-style mapping: specific ritual items/fields (fragrance, tongue, birds, lotus-leaves) are to be offered/assigned to named deities as part of an Aṣṭadevatā (octad) worship procedure.
It exemplifies the Agni Purāṇa’s practical ritual manual character—cataloguing precise correspondences used in pūjā (offerings, sense-symbols, deity assignments), alongside its many other domains like polity, medicine, and arts.
Correctly assigning offerings and symbolic elements to their presiding deities is taught as a way to perfect worship, reduce ritual fault (doṣa), and promote purification and merit through orderly, deity-centered devotion.