Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 16
Nīrājana-vidhiḥ
Procedure of Nīrājana / Auspicious Lamp-Waving and Royal Propitiation
त्रैलोक्यविजये चण्डि मम शान्तौ जये भव नीराजनविधिं वक्ष्ये ऐशान्यान्मन्दिरं चरेत्
trailokyavijaye caṇḍi mama śāntau jaye bhava nīrājanavidhiṃ vakṣye aiśānyānmandiraṃ caret
ಹೇ ಚಂಡಿ, ತ್ರೈಲೋಕ್ಯವಿಜಯಿನಿ! ನನ್ನ ಶಾಂತಿಗೂ ಜಯಕ್ಕೂ ಅನುಗ್ರಹಿಸು. ಈಗ ನಾನು ನೀರಾಜನ ವಿಧಿಯನ್ನು ಹೇಳುತ್ತೇನೆ; ಈಶಾನ (ಉತ್ತರ-ಪೂರ್ವ) ದಿಕ್ಕಿನಿಂದ ಆರಂಭಿಸಿ ಮಂದಿರವನ್ನು ಪ್ರದಕ್ಷಿಣೆ ಮಾಡಬೇಕು.
Lord Agni (instructing Sage Vasiṣṭha, the standard Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Daily/occasional temple or home-puja: recite a victory-pacification address to Caṇḍī, perform nīrājana (ārati), and do pradakṣiṇā beginning from the Īśāna (north-east) side to align movement with auspicious directional order.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Nīrājana-vidhi and Īśāna-pradakṣiṇā (Caṇḍī invocation)","lookup_keywords":["nīrājana","ārati","Īśāna","pradakṣiṇā","Caṇḍī"],"quick_summary":"The verse frames nīrājana as a protective-victory rite and prescribes circumambulation starting from the north-east (Īśāna), treating direction as ritually determinative."}
Concept: Directional order and light-offering (nīrājana) as embodied devotion that converts space into protected sacred territory.
Application: Maintain consistent pradakṣiṇā protocol (start-point, clockwise movement) and conclude worship with light-waving as a sealing/warding act.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Nirajana / Arati-vidhi and temple circumambulation)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Type: Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A devotee before the sanctum performs nīrājana with a multi-wick lamp while beginning clockwise circumambulation from the north-east corner; Caṇḍī’s shrine glows within.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, deep earthy reds and greens, Caṇḍī in sanctum as Trailokyavijayā, priest holding brass nīrājana lamp with flames, devotees starting pradakṣiṇā from Īśāna corner, stylized temple pillars and oil-lamp ambience","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf haloed Caṇḍī in shrine, ornate arch, devotee with ārati lamp, emphasized Īśāna corner marker, rich jewelry and embossed gold detailing, devotional indoor temple scene","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean linework showing ritual sequence: lamp-waving in front of deity then clockwise pradakṣiṇā path starting at north-east, labeled directional cues, soft pastel palette and instructional clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed temple courtyard and sanctum, attendant with lamp performing nīrājana, figures beginning circumambulation from the north-east, fine architectural detailing, subdued jewel tones"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: त्रैलोक्यविजये = त्रैलोक्य-विजये; ऐशान्यान्मन्दिरम् = ऐशान्यात् मन्दिरम् (त् + म् → न्म्)
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Puja-vidhi sections on nīrājana/ārati, pradakṣiṇā, dikpāla-nyāsa and rakṣā-vidhi (adjacent chapters in the 260s–270s)
FAQs
It gives a practical nīrājana (ārati) instruction: invoke Caṇḍī for pacification and victory, and perform temple circumambulation beginning from the Īśāna (north-east) direction.
It functions as a ritual handbook entry—combining devotional invocation, a named ceremonial procedure (nīrājana), and directional protocol (Īśāna), reflecting the Purāṇa’s coverage of liturgy, temple practice, and vāstu-aligned movement.
The verse frames nīrājana and pradakṣiṇā as acts that secure śānti (appeasement of obstacles) and jaya (success/victory) through Goddess worship, implying purification and auspiciousness through correctly performed ritual and direction.