Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 28
Rājābhiṣeka-kathana
Account of the Royal Consecration
तं पश्येद्दर्पणं राजा घृतं वै मङ्गलादिकं अभ्यर्च्य विष्णुं ब्रह्माणमिन्द्रादींश् च ग्रहेश्वरान्
taṃ paśyeddarpaṇaṃ rājā ghṛtaṃ vai maṅgalādikaṃ abhyarcya viṣṇuṃ brahmāṇamindrādīṃś ca graheśvarān
विष्णू, ब्रह्मा, इंद्र इत्यादी व ग्रहेश्वर यांचे विधिवत् पूजन करून, राजा तो आरसा तसेच घृत व इतर मंगलद्रव्ये पाहावीत.
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Jyotisha","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Graha-śānti and royal maṅgala: worship planetary lords and then perform auspicious ‘darśana’ of mirror and ghee to secure favorable omens.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Graheśvara-pūjā with darpaṇa & ghṛta maṅgala-darśana","lookup_keywords":["graha shanti","graheśvara","darpaṇa darśana","ghṛta maṅgala","viṣṇu brahmā indra pūjā"],"quick_summary":"After worshipping Viṣṇu, Brahmā, Indra and the planetary lords, the king takes auspicious sight of a mirror and ghee—standard maṅgala objects used to stabilize fortune and avert graha-doṣa."}
Dosha: Tridosha
Concept: Dṛṣṭi (auspicious seeing) and devatā-graha-samarpaṇa are tools to align human action with cosmic order.
Application: In major undertakings, begin with devatā-pūjā and controlled maṅgala-darśana to cultivate steadiness and confidence (ritual-psychological efficacy).
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Mangala-karmani / Graha-shanti and royal auspicious rites)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"The king, after worship, gazes into a polished mirror placed on a stand; nearby are a bowl of ghee and other maṅgala items; representations of Viṣṇu, Brahmā, Indra, and navagrahas are honored with flowers and lamps.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, king before ritual altar, mirror on pedestal reflecting face, ghee lamp and bowl, navagraha icons in a row, rich ochres and greens, symmetrical sacred layout","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, king with ornate jewelry, mirror with gold border, ghee vessel highlighted with gold leaf, deities framed above, dense decorative motifs","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean instructional depiction: sequence panels—pūjā to Viṣṇu/Brahmā/Indra, then graha worship, then mirror-and-ghee darśana; soft palette and precise lines","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, court ritual interior, mirror catching light, attendants holding trays with ghee and flowers, delicate architectural arches, fine detailing"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पश्येद्दर्पणं = पश्येत् + दर्पणम्; ब्रह्माणमिन्द्रादींश् = ब्रह्माणम् + इन्द्रादीन् + च (श्च-लेखन).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 218 (graha-śānti/maṅgala-karmāṇi steps); Agni Purana graha chapters (navagraha names, śānti methods)
FAQs
It prescribes a royal maṅgala-rite: after worshipping major deities and the graha-lords, the king performs auspicious ‘darśana’ (viewing) of a mirror and ghee—items used as शुभ-लक्षण (good-omen indicators) within graha-śānti and maṅgala-karmas.
Alongside theology, it preserves applied ritual protocol for governance—how a king should conduct auspicious observances connected to planetary powers (grahas), integrating pūjā-vidhi, omenology (maṅgala-lakṣaṇa), and Jyotiṣa-oriented propitiation.
Worship of Viṣṇu, Brahmā, Indra and the graha-deities is meant to harmonize divine and planetary influences; the subsequent auspicious viewing acts as a consecrating confirmation (śubha-darśana) intended to remove obstacles and stabilize prosperity and righteous rule.