Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 33
Rājābhiṣeka-kathana
Account of the Royal Consecration
वह्निं प्रदक्षिणीकृत्य गुरुं नत्वाथ पृष्ठतः वृषमालभ्य गां वत्सां पूजयित्वाथ मन्त्रितं
vahniṃ pradakṣiṇīkṛtya guruṃ natvātha pṛṣṭhataḥ vṛṣamālabhya gāṃ vatsāṃ pūjayitvātha mantritaṃ
अग्नि की प्रदक्षिणा करके गुरु को प्रणाम करे; फिर पीछे से वृषभ को पकड़कर, गाय और उसके बछड़े की पूजा करके, मंत्रोक्त विधि से कर्म करे।
Lord Agni (narrating the ritual procedure)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Ritual sequence: pradakshina of sacred fire, guru-vandana, handling of bull, worship of cow with calf, and mantra-governed performance—useful for household/royal auspicious rites and consecratory observances.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Agni-Pradakshina and Guru-Vandana with Go-Puja (Cow-Calf) and Vrisha-Sparsha","lookup_keywords":["agni-pradakshina","guru-vandana","go-puja","vrisha","mantra-vidhi"],"quick_summary":"The rite proceeds by circumambulating Agni, bowing to the guru, then ritually engaging with bull and worshipping cow-and-calf, concluding with the prescribed mantras. It encodes auspiciousness, lineage-respect, and bovine sanctity within a mantra-framed act."}
Concept: Auspicious power is cultivated through ordered acts: honoring Agni (witness), honoring guru (transmission), and honoring go-vamsha (sustenance), sealed by mantra.
Application: In any consecratory rite, keep the sequence: invoke witness (Agni), submit to guidance (guru), then perform the main auspicious act with correct mantra and respectful bodily conduct.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Agni-hotra and Guru-vandana rites)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual performer circumambulates a small sacred fire altar, bows to the seated guru, then from behind touches/holds a bull and worships a cow with her calf, while a priest recites mantras.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, homa-kunda with stylized flames, performer in white dhoti doing pradakshina, guru seated on asana, cow and calf adorned with garlands, bull nearby, ritual vessels and lamps, saturated traditional palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold accents on fire altar and ornaments, central Agni flame, guru with halo-like aura, richly decorated cow and calf, devotee in reverent posture, symmetrical sacred composition","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional clarity: stepwise scene showing pradakshina path around agni, guru namaskara, then go-puja with offerings, fine linework and gentle colors","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed domestic ritual courtyard, small fire altar, guru and disciple interaction, naturalistic cow-calf depiction with garlands, attendants holding ritual items, delicate architectural framing"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: प्रदक्षिणीकृत्य = प्रदक्षिणी + कृत्य (अर्थतः प्रदक्षिणं कृत्वा); नत्वाथ = नत्वा + अथ; पूजयित्वाथ = पूजयित्वा + अथ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: puja-vidhi and homa-related passages; guru-puja and mantra-nyasa discussions (elsewhere in ritual sections)
FAQs
It prescribes a concrete sequence in a fire-rite: circumambulation of Agni, obeisance to the guru, approaching from behind, ritually taking hold of a bull, performing cow-and-calf worship, and then completing the act with the proper mantras.
Rather than only theology, it gives step-by-step operational ritual protocol—linking fire worship, teacher veneration, animal-associated auspicious rites (go-puja), and mantra-application—showing the text’s practical handbook character.
Pradakṣiṇā and guru-namaskāra signify reverence and right orientation; go-puja (cow-and-calf honouring) is traditionally meritorious and purificatory, and mantra-governed action is presented as the correct, efficacy-bearing way to complete the rite.