Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 25
Nīrājana-vidhiḥ
Procedure of Nīrājana / Auspicious Lamp-Waving and Royal Propitiation
पूजिता राजलिङ्गाश् च कर्तव्या नरहस्तगाः हस्तिनन्तुरगं छत्रं खड्गं चापञ्च दुन्दुभिम्
pūjitā rājaliṅgāś ca kartavyā narahastagāḥ hastinanturagaṃ chatraṃ khaḍgaṃ cāpañca dundubhim
રાજચિહ્નોનું વિધિપૂર્વક પૂજન કરવું અને સેવકોના હાથે ધારણ કરાવવું. (એ ચિહ્નો:) હાથી અને ઘોડો, રાજછત્ર, ખડ્ગ, ધનુષ્ય અને દુન્દુભિ (યુદ્ધનગારું).
Lord Agni (in dialogue tradition, instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"State protocol for honoring and displaying royal insignia in ceremonies and departures; defines the set of key regalia and their handling by attendants to signify sovereignty and readiness.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Rāja-cihna (royal insignia) to be honored and borne","lookup_keywords":["rāja-cihna","chatra","khaḍga","cāpa","dundubhi"],"quick_summary":"Honor the royal insignia and have attendants bear them: elephant, horse, parasol, sword, bow, and war-drum—public markers of kingship and authority."}
Weapon Type: Sword (khaḍga), Bow (cāpa), War-drum (dundubhi) as martial regalia; elephant/horse as war-mounts.
Concept: External symbols (cihna) are to be ritually honored, reflecting inner legitimacy and ordered governance.
Application: Maintain regalia protocol in coronations, departures, festivals, and diplomatic appearances to communicate authority and auspicious order.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Raja-lakshana (Royal insignia and state protocol)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ceremonial court scene where attendants present and honor royal regalia: a caparisoned elephant and horse, a white parasol, a gleaming sword, a strung bow, and a large war-drum, arranged as symbols of kingship.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, frontal display of royal insignia with attendants, elephant and horse richly caparisoned, chatra held aloft, sword and bow presented, dundubhi drum, bold colors and symmetrical composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, heavy gold work on parasol, weapons, and animal ornaments, regal red backdrop, attendants holding insignia in a formal arrangement, temple-like aura","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, precise depiction of each insignia with clear forms, attendants in orderly rows, emphasis on protocol and ceremonial bearing, soft shading","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, durbar setting with attendants carrying chatra, khaḍga, cāpa, and dundubhi, elephant and horse in the foreground, intricate court textiles and architectural details"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Bilawal","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: राजलिङ्गाश् च = राजलिङ्गाः + च; चापञ्च = च + अपि + (पञ्च?) इति पाठसन्देहः; ‘हस्तिनन्तुरगम्’ इत्यत्र पदच्छेदः सम्भाव्यः: हस्तिनाम् + तु + तुरगम् (edition spacing issue).
Related Themes: Agni Purana: rājadharma and rāja-lakṣaṇa materials; dhanurveda/weapon descriptions; śānti and procession rites
FAQs
It prescribes the ceremonial protocol for honoring and physically bearing the king’s official insignia in public or court contexts (procession/royal display).
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana catalogues practical governance details—here, the concrete list of royal emblems and how they are handled—showing its coverage of polity and court culture.
By treating kingship as a dharmic institution, honoring royal insignia is framed as upholding social order (dharma) and auspiciousness, reinforcing legitimacy and harmony in the realm.