Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 30
Ṛग्विधानम् (Ṛgvidhāna) — Applications of Ṛgvedic Mantras through Japa and Homa
ऊर्ध्वबाहुरनेनैव स्तुत्वा सम्भुं तथैव च मानस्तोकेति च ऋचा शिखाबन्धे कृते नरः
ūrdhvabāhuranenaiva stutvā sambhuṃ tathaiva ca mānastoketi ca ṛcā śikhābandhe kṛte naraḥ
കൈകൾ മേലോട്ടുയർത്തി ഇതേവിധം ശംഭു (ശിവൻ)നെ സ്തുതിക്കണം. കൂടാതെ ശിഖാബന്ധം കെട്ടുമ്പോൾ ‘മാ നഃ സ്തോക്കെ…’ എന്ന് ആരംഭിക്കുന്ന ഋക്ക് ജപിക്കണം.
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, as typical for Agni Purāṇa instruction sections)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Stotra","practical_application":"Daily personal observance: praise Śiva with raised arms; while tying the śikhā, recite the specified Ṛgvedic mantra (‘mā naḥ stoke…’) as a protective/auspicious act.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Śikhā-bandha with ‘Mā naḥ stoke…’ Ṛk and Śambhu-stuti (Ūrdhva-bāhu)","lookup_keywords":["ūrdhva-bāhu","Śambhu stuti","śikhā-bandha","mā naḥ stoke","ṛk"],"quick_summary":"Combine bodily gesture (raised arms) with Śiva-praise, and seal the act by reciting the ‘mā naḥ stoke…’ Ṛk during śikhā-tying. The entry encodes a portable, daily protective piety."}
Alamkara Type: Stotra (bhakti-prayoga; not a classical alaṅkāra lesson)
Concept: Ācāra (daily discipline) sanctifies the body through mantra and gesture; bodily acts become carriers of sacred speech.
Application: Perform śikhā-bandha mindfully with Vedic recitation; use gesture-based stuti to focus attention and devotion.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Mantra-prayoga and personal ritual observances)
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A dvija worshipper stands with arms raised in praise to Śambhu; beside him, he ties his topknot (śikhā) while reciting a Ṛgvedic verse, with a subtle aura of protection around the head.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Śiva (Śambhu) as calm presence in the background, devotee with raised arms, clear depiction of śikhā-bandha gesture, sacred syllables as stylized script motifs around the head, warm earthy palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, Śiva icon in a small shrine niche with gold halo, devotee in foreground raising arms, second moment showing śikhā tying, gold embossing on halo and ornaments, auspicious lamps","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional two-panel composition: (1) ūrdhva-bāhu stuti posture, (2) close-up of hands tying śikhā; fine lines, minimal background, readable ritual clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, domestic prayer room, devotee standing with raised arms facing a small Śiva-linga shrine, attendant holding water pot, detailed textiles, subtle calligraphic band representing the Ṛk during śikhā tying"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ऊर्ध्वबाहुरनेनैव→ऊर्ध्वबाहुः + अनेन + एव; तथैव→तथा + एव; मानस्तोकेति→मानस्तोक + इति
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Puja-vidhi sections on nitya-karma, śikhā/ācamanā/mantra-nyāsa (near 258)
FAQs
It prescribes a specific ritual procedure: raise the arms and praise Śiva (Śambhu), and during śikhā-bandha (tying the topknot) recite the Ṛgvedic ṛk that begins “mā naḥ stoke…”, using Vedic recitation as a protective/auspicious adjunct to a bodily rite.
It shows the Agni Purāṇa’s characteristic synthesis: Purāṇic Śaiva devotion (stuti of Śambhu), Vedic mantra-prayoga (citation of a specific Ṛk), and practical daily-ritual detail (śikhā-bandha), blending liturgy, mantra, and conduct in a single instruction.
By combining Śiva-stuti with a Vedic protective verse at the moment of śikhā-bandha, the act is framed as sanctifying the body and mind, invoking divine protection and auspiciousness, and supporting ritual purity and merit (puṇya) through correct mantra-linked conduct.