Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 7
दमनकारोहणविधिः (Dāmanaka-ārohaṇa-vidhi) — Procedure for Raising/Placing the Dāmanaka Garland
वामेन शिरसा वाथ नालं धात्रीं तथोत्तरे दक्षिणे भग्नपत्रञ्च प्राच्यां पुष्पञ्च धारणं
vāmena śirasā vātha nālaṃ dhātrīṃ tathottare dakṣiṇe bhagnapatrañca prācyāṃ puṣpañca dhāraṇaṃ
ഇടത് ഭാഗത്ത് ശിരസ് (മസ്തകം) ധരിക്കണം; നാളവും ധാത്രിയും വടക്കോട്ട് വയ്ക്കണം; ഭഗ്നപത്രം തെക്കോട്ട്; പുഷ്പം കിഴക്കോട്ട്—ഇതാണ് ധാരണവിധി।
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s ritual-technical style)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Directional mapping of ritual components (head, stalk, dhātrī, broken leaf, flower) for yantra/mantra-linked placements during pūjā.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Dhāraṇa-vinyāsa: directional placement of ritual parts (śiras, nāla, dhātrī, bhagnapatra, puṣpa)","lookup_keywords":["dhāraṇa","dik-vinyāsa","nāla","dhātrī","bhagnapatra puṣpa"],"quick_summary":"The verse gives a compact directional chart for holding/placing specific ritual parts: head to the left, stalk and dhātrī to the north, broken leaf to the south, and flower to the east."}
Concept: Microcosmic ordering: ritual objects are aligned to directions to harmonize the rite with cosmic order.
Application: Prepare a simple directional diagram before worship; place each component consistently to preserve mantra-śakti and avoid confusion.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Yantra–Mantra–Nirnaya (Ritual placements and directional prescriptions)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual layout showing a deity/yantra at center with items placed by direction: flower in the east, broken leaf in the south, stalk and dhātrī in the north, and the ‘head’ held/placed to the left side.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, top-down mandala-like altar view, clear cardinal directions, stylized ritual items placed accordingly, priest’s hands indicating left-side placement for the head, bold outlines and warm tones.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, central deity/yantra with gold accents, surrounding directional items rendered as ornate offerings, east flower emphasized with bright color, symmetrical devotional composition.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic diagram aesthetic, neat labels for directions, precise depiction of nāla, dhātrī, leaf, flower, and head placement, minimal background, refined lines.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, meticulous still-life arrangement around a central shrine, directional placement implied by architecture and compass-like floor pattern, fine textures on leaf and flower."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shuddha Sarang","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: vātha = vā + atha; tathottare = tathā + uttare; bhagnapatrañca = bhagna-patram + ca; puṣpañca = puṣpam + ca.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 80 (Yantra–Mantra–Nirṇaya: dhāraṇa and dik rules)
FAQs
It gives a precise directional and side-based prescription (dhāraṇa-vidhi) for placing/holding specific ritual components—head to the left, stalk and dhātrī to the north, broken leaf to the south, and flower to the east.
Beyond mythology, it records operational ritual minutiae—directional placement rules used in pūjā and related rites—showing the text’s compendium-like coverage of practical liturgy.
Correct placement aligns the rite with prescribed sacred directions (dik), supporting ritual correctness (vidhi) and thereby the intended merit and purity of the worship act.