Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 20
Nīrājana-vidhiḥ
Procedure of Nīrājana / Auspicious Lamp-Waving and Royal Propitiation
कुमुदैरावणौ पद्मः पुष्पदन्तश् च वामनः सुप्रतीको ऽञ्जनो नीलः पूजा कार्या गृहादिके
kumudairāvaṇau padmaḥ puṣpadantaś ca vāmanaḥ supratīko 'ñjano nīlaḥ pūjā kāryā gṛhādike
កុមុទ អៃរាវណ បទ្ម ពុស្ពទន្ត វាមន សុប្រតីក អញ្ជន និងនីល—សត្វ/អង្គទាំងនេះ គួរបូជាក្នុងពិធីទាក់ទងនឹងគេហដ្ឋាន និងសំណង់ពាក់ព័ន្ធ។
Lord Agni (in dialogue with sage Vasiṣṭha, the standard Agni Purāṇa narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"House/threshold protection by worshipping the eight diggajas (named here) in relation to the home and its associated structures, integrating Vāstu-directional guardians into daily or occasion-based gṛha rites.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Aṣṭa-diggaja names for gṛha-ādi pūjā","lookup_keywords":["Kumuda","Airāvaṇa","Padma","Puṣpadanta","Supratīka"],"quick_summary":"The verse supplies the eight directional elephants’ names and instructs their worship for the house and related spaces, functioning as a Vāstu-rakṣā measure."}
Concept: Spatial sacralization: aligning built space with cosmic direction-guardians is a practical theology of order (ṛta) applied to habitation.
Application: During gṛha-praveśa, renovation, or periodic śānti, offer flowers/incense to the eight directions naming these diggajas; optionally mark directions on the floor-plan and perform dik-bandhana.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Griha-devata & Vastu-related worship; household/threshold guardians)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A house plan or courtyard with eight directions indicated; at each direction stands a named elephant guardian receiving offerings, protecting the dwelling and its gateways.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized house/maṇḍapa with compass directions, eight majestic elephants (Kumuda, Airāvaṇa, Padma, Puṣpadanta, Vāmana, Supratīka, Añjana, Nīla) placed around, priest offering flowers at each direction, bold outlines and temple-wall symmetry","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central gṛha-devatā altar with gold, border ring of eight elephant guardians with name cartouches, ornate doorway motifs, rich reds and greens with embossed gold highlights","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional diagram: floor-plan with eight directional markers, each elephant guardian illustrated and labeled, calm palette and precise detailing of thresholds and gateways","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtyard scene with attendants placing offerings at eight points, elephants depicted as symbolic guardians in the margins, fine architectural rendering of the house and gateway, delicate brushwork"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Madhyamavati","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कुमुदैरावणौ = कुमुद-ऐरावणौ (द्वन्द्व); पुष्पदन्तश् = पुष्पदन्तः; ऽञ्जनः = अञ्जनः (अवग्रह); गृहादिके = गृह-आदिके
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Vāstu and gṛha-devatā worship passages; dikpāla/dik-bandhana material in puja-vidhi cluster
FAQs
It gives a practical pūjā-list: specific named guardian beings (Kumuda, Airāvaṇa, Padma, etc.) are to be propitiated as part of gṛha-ādi (house and allied spaces) worship, functioning as a Vāstu/household protection rite.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purāṇa catalogs applied ritual procedures for everyday life—here, domestic and spatial rites (gṛha-ādi pūjā) with enumerated entities—showing its manual-like coverage of Vāstu and household liturgy alongside many other disciplines.
Performing these gṛha-ādi pūjās is presented as a means of sanctifying one’s dwelling, securing auspiciousness, and averting obstacles—aligning the home with dharma through orderly propitiation of protective presences.