Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 23
Nīrājana-vidhiḥ
Procedure of Nīrājana / Auspicious Lamp-Waving and Royal Propitiation
विक्रमेयुस्ततः सर्वे राजलिङ्गं गृहे यजेत् शेखरादीति क वारुणे वरुणं प्रार्च्य रात्रौ भूतबलिं ददेत्
vikrameyustataḥ sarve rājaliṅgaṃ gṛhe yajet śekharādīti ka vāruṇe varuṇaṃ prārcya rātrau bhūtabaliṃ dadet
त्यानंतर सर्वांनी पुढे प्रस्थान करावे. घरी राजलिंगाची पूजा करावी. वारुण कर्मात वरुणाचे विधिपूर्वक अर्चन करून, रात्री भूतबली (भूतादिंसाठी अन्ननिवेदन) द्यावी.
Lord Agni (narrating Agni Purana’s ritual instructions)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Household/royal ritual sequence: worship of a royal liṅga at home, performance of a Vāruṇa rite to Varuṇa, and nocturnal bhūta-bali to harmonize unseen forces and avert obstacles.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Gṛha-rāja-liṅga-pūjā, Vāruṇa-vidhi, rātri-bhūta-bali","lookup_keywords":["rāja-liṅga","gṛha-pūjā","Vāruṇa-vidhi","Varuṇa","bhūta-bali"],"quick_summary":"Proceed to worship the royal liṅga in the house; in the Varuṇa rite worship Varuṇa; at night offer bhūta-bali to pacify beings and secure protection."}
Concept: Ritual completeness includes both deva-pūjā (liṅga/Varuṇa) and bhūta-tarpaṇa (offerings to beings), integrating visible and invisible order.
Application: Combine deity worship with protective bali at appropriate time (night) to reduce obstacles, fear, and inauspicious disturbances.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Griha-linga worship and ancillary bali rites)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Inside a royal household shrine, attendants worship a decorated liṅga; separately, a Varuṇa altar with water vessels; at night, offerings are placed at thresholds/courtyard corners as bhūta-bali under lamplight.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, interior shrine with liṅga adorned with bilva and garlands, Varuṇa motif with aquatic symbols, night scene with oil lamps and bali offerings at courtyard edges, protective ambience","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold on liṅga pedestal and ritual vessels, Varuṇa represented with pāśa and water-pot, night bhūta-bali with lamp glow, rich ornamentation","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean instructional panels: (1) liṅga-pūjā in gṛha, (2) Vāruṇa rite with water pots, (3) night bhūta-bali placement, subtle shading","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, palace interior shrine scene with liṅga worship, separate courtyard night offering with lamps, attendants placing food offerings, detailed architecture and textiles"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Malkauns","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: विक्रमेयुस्ततः = विक्रमेयुः + ततः; शेखरादीति = शेखरादि + इति; प्रार्च्य = प्र + आर्च्य (pra-√arc, ktvā); ‘क’ पदः पाठसन्दिग्धः (manuscript/edition issue).
Related Themes: Agni Purana: liṅga-pūjā and bali-vidhi sections; dikpāla/Varuṇa worship; bhūta-yajña/bali procedures
FAQs
It prescribes a sequence within household worship: perform gṛha-based rāja-liṅga worship, then in a Vāruṇa (Varuṇa-focused) observance, worship Varuṇa and conclude with a night-time bhūta-bali offering for appeasement/protection.
It shows the text’s practical ritual breadth by combining Śaiva domestic liṅga-pūjā with a distinct Vāruṇa rite and the protective bhūta-bali practice—illustrating how the Purana compiles multi-deity, multi-rite procedural religion.
Worship of the Liṅga and Varuṇa is presented as order-restoring devotion, while bhūta-bali functions as a pacifying, protective act—aimed at averting disturbances and maintaining ritual harmony within the household.