Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 15
Nīrājana-vidhiḥ
Procedure of Nīrājana / Auspicious Lamp-Waving and Royal Propitiation
जाग्रन्निशि बलिन्दद्याद्द्वितीये ऽह्नि पुनर्यजेत् भद्रकालि महाकालि दुर्गे दुर्गार्तिहारिणि
jāgranniśi balindadyāddvitīye 'hni punaryajet bhadrakāli mahākāli durge durgārtihāriṇi
Dengan berjaga pada malam hari, hendaklah dipersembahkan bali (korban suci). Pada hari kedua, hendaklah dilakukan pemujaan sekali lagi, dengan seruan: “Wahai Bhadrakālī, wahai Mahākālī, wahai Durgā—penghapus derita bagi mereka yang dalam kesusahan.”
Lord Agni (teaching ritual procedure to sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Night vigil with bali offering, followed by second-day worship invoking Bhadrakālī/Mahākālī/Durgā for removal of distress; used for protection, victory, and obstacle-clearing rites.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Devī-bali and Two-day Upāsanā: Bhadrakālī–Mahākālī–Durgā Invocation","lookup_keywords":["jāgaran","bali","dvitīya-ahni","Bhadrakālī","Mahākālī","Durgā"],"quick_summary":"Outlines a protective Devī rite: keep night vigil, offer bali, and repeat worship on the second day while invoking the goddess as remover of distress; suitable for śānti and jaya intentions."}
Alamkara Type: Nāma-mālā (epithet string)
Weapon Type: Devī as warrior-protectress (implied)
Concept: Discipline (jāgaraṇa), offering (bali), and repeated worship cultivate protective power and inner steadiness; distress is met with structured devotion and courage.
Application: Adopt a time-bound vow during crises: vigil/fasting as appropriate, repeated prayer, and charitable offerings; keep the rite non-harmful and socially responsible per local dharma norms.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Tantric Devi-upasana / Bali–Homa procedure)
Primary Rasa: Vira
Secondary Rasa: Bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A night-time Devī rite: devotees keep vigil by lamp-light, offering bali before a fierce yet protective image of Bhadrakālī/Mahākālī/Durgā; the next day, worship continues with renewed offerings for relief from distress.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, nocturnal temple courtyard with oil lamps, devotees in jāgaraṇa, Bhadrakālī/Mahākālī depicted with bold eyes and dynamic posture, offerings arranged, deep reds and blacks balanced with gold ochre highlights.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Durgā/Bhadrakālī central with gold foil halo and ornaments, devotees offering bali on a tray, night lamps rendered as glowing gold, ornate arch frame, devotional intensity.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, two-panel narrative: left night vigil with bali, right second-day worship, clear ritual implements (lamp, flowers, offering tray), soft shading, instructional sequencing.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, night interior with lamp-lit figures, detailed textiles and ritual vessels, goddess image on a pedestal, second-day scene hinted with dawn light, calligraphic caption for the invocation names."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: जाग्रन्निशि = जाग्रन् + निशि (न् + न → न्न); बलिन्दद्याद् = बलिम् + दद्याद् (म् + द → न्द in transmission); द्वितीयेऽह्नि = द्वितीये + अह्नि (ए + अ → एऽ); पुनर्यजेत् = पुनः + यजेत् (ः + य → र्य).
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Devī-upāsanā and bali/homa procedures; Agni Purana: śānti and rakṣā-kalpas
FAQs
It prescribes a Devi-upāsanā sequence: night-long vigil (jāgaraṇa), a bali (ritual offering) at night, and renewal of worship on the second day with a focused invocation of Bhadrakālī/Mahākālī/Durgā.
Alongside theology, the Agni Purana functions as a practical ritual handbook; this verse records operational details—timing (night/second day), offering type (bali), and deity-specific epithets—typical of its procedural, manual-like sections.
The vigil, bali, and repeated worship are framed as a means to obtain the Goddess’s protection and removal of distress (ārti), emphasizing refuge in Durgā as the remover of dangers and hardships.