Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 10
Nīrājana-vidhiḥ
Procedure of Nīrājana / Auspicious Lamp-Waving and Royal Propitiation
समुद्रा श्रीर्मही गौरी चण्डिका च सरस्वती प्रवर्तयन्तु ते तेजो जय शक्र शचीपते
samudrā śrīrmahī gaurī caṇḍikā ca sarasvatī pravartayantu te tejo jaya śakra śacīpate
ಸಮುದ್ರಾ, ಶ್ರೀ, ಮಹೀ, ಗೌರೀ, ಚಂಡಿಕಾ, ಸರಸ್ವತೀ—ಅವರು ನಿನ್ನ ತೇಜಸ್ಸನ್ನು ಪ್ರವರ್ತಿಸಿ ವೃದ್ಧಿಸಲಿ. ಜಯವಾಗಲಿ, ಹೇ ಶಕ್ರ, ಹೇ ಶಚೀಪತೇ!
Lord Agni (narrating the stotra/mantra material in Agni Purana)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Stotra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"A victory-benediction addressed to Indra (Śakra) invoking multiple goddesses/powers (Samudrā, Śrī, Mahī, Gaurī, Caṇḍikā, Sarasvatī) to activate and increase tejas—used in protective rites, royal blessings, and auspicious commencements.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Mantra","entry_title":"Śakti-Samuccaya for Śakra: Samudrā–Śrī–Mahī–Gaurī–Caṇḍikā–Sarasvatī","lookup_keywords":["Śakra","Śacīpati","tejas","Śrī","Caṇḍikā"],"quick_summary":"Invokes a cluster of feminine divine powers—prosperity, earth, auspiciousness, fierce protection, and knowledge—to propel the recipient’s radiance and secure victory. Practically, it is a compact mantra-like stuti for empowerment and success."}
Alamkara Type: Samuccaya (aggregation) and Jaya-śabda prayoga (victory acclamation)
Weapon Type: Vajra (Indra); weapons implied for Caṇḍikā
Concept: Tejas is energized through coordinated śakti-principles—prosperity (Śrī), knowledge (Sarasvatī), protection (Caṇḍikā), auspiciousness (Gaurī), and stability (Mahī/Samudrā).
Application: In prayer/ritual, invoke complementary divine powers (artha, vidyā, rakṣā) to balance success: wealth, wisdom, protection, and grounded stability.
Khanda Section: Stotra-Mantra (Indra-stuti / Devī-samarpaṇa within Purāṇic ritual praise)
Primary Rasa: Vira
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A triumphant blessing: multiple goddesses—ocean, prosperity, earth, auspicious Gaurī, fierce Caṇḍikā, and Sarasvatī—radiate toward Indra, propelling his tejas as the cry of victory is proclaimed.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, semicircle of goddesses with distinct attributes (lotus, vīṇā, lion, ocean waves, earth motifs) sending rays of light to Indra with vajra, dramatic yet balanced composition, rich reds/ochres/greens","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central Indra with gold halo, surrounding goddesses in medallions, heavy gold foil for jewelry and rays of tejas, lotus base, ornate temple arch, ‘Jaya Śakra’ banner","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear iconographic labeling of each goddess, gentle gradients, instructional arrangement showing attributes and their ‘tejas’ rays converging on Śakra","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, celestial assembly with elegant feminine figures personifying ocean/earth/prosperity/learning, fine textiles and jewelry, Indra receiving radiance, calligraphic cartouche reading ‘jaya’"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: श्रीर्मही → श्रीः + मही; ते तेजो → ते + तेजः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana devī-stuti and śakti-related invocations (general); Agni Purana stotra sections with jaya-mantras and tejas-vardhana blessings (general)
FAQs
It functions as a stuti-mantra: invoking a cluster of goddesses to augment the recipient’s tejas (radiant power/royal-spiritual efficacy) and concluding with a victory acclamation to Indra (Śakra).
It exemplifies the text’s stotra-and-mantra layer—cataloging deities, epithets, and ritualized praise formulas alongside other domains (rites, polity, medicine, poetics), showing Agni Purana’s multi-genre, compendious scope.
The verse seeks śakti-sambandha (alignment with divine powers) for the growth of tejas—traditionally linked to protection, success, and auspiciousness—while honoring Indra as the victorious lord, reinforcing dharmic aspiration for strength used rightly.