Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 35
Tvaritā-mūla-mantra and Related Details
Dīkṣā, Maṇḍala, Nyāsa, Japa, Homa, Siddhi, Mokṣa
नीलेन वाथ वस्त्रेण देवीं तैर् एव चार्चयेत् व्रजेद्दक्षिणदिग्भागं द्वारे दद्याद्बलिं बुधः
nīlena vātha vastreṇa devīṃ tair eva cārcayet vrajeddakṣiṇadigbhāgaṃ dvāre dadyādbaliṃ budhaḥ
ନୀଳ ବସ୍ତ୍ରରେ (କିମ୍ବା ନୀଳ ପରିଧାନରେ) ସେହି ଦ୍ରବ୍ୟମାନେ ଦ୍ୱାରା ଦେବୀଙ୍କୁ ଅର୍ଚ୍ଚନା କରିବ। ପରେ ଦକ୍ଷିଣ ଦିଗକୁ ଯାଇ, ଦ୍ୱାରେ ବୁଦ୍ଧିମାନ ବଲି ଦେବ।
Lord Agni (narrating to sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi / Mantra-sadhana and Homa (Ritual Procedures)","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Devi worship with blue cloth and specified offerings, followed by directional movement to the south and bali placement at the doorway—used for protection, appeasement, or siddhi-oriented rites.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Devī-upāsanā with nīla-vastra and dakṣiṇa-dik bali at the doorway","lookup_keywords":["nīla-vastra","devī-arcana","dakṣiṇa-dik","dvāra-bali","bali-vidhāna"],"quick_summary":"Worship the Goddess with blue garments and the same ritual materials, then proceed to the southern quarter and offer bali at the threshold—marking a liminal protective/propitiatory act."}
Concept: Ritual efficacy depends on correct dravya, varṇa (color), and dik (direction); liminal spaces (dvāra) are ritually ‘sealed’ through bali.
Application: In Devi rites, standardize color and directionality; place bali at thresholds to mark protection/appeasement before proceeding with inner worship.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Devi-upasana and Bali-vidhana)
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Type: Sacred-space (ritual boundary)
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A Devi shrine with the sādhaka wearing/using blue cloth, offering worship materials; then moving to the southern side of the doorway to place a bali at the threshold.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Devī in sanctum niche, sādhaka in nīla-vastra offering flowers/incense, second vignette at temple doorway placing bali in the south, bold outlines and ritual symmetry.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Devī richly adorned with gold, blue cloth prominent in worship scene, doorway threshold with bali plate at southern side, ornate pillars and gold detailing.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear instructional sequence: Devī-arcana with blue cloth, then directional arrow to south, then dvāra-bali placement, delicate shading and precise architecture lines.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtyard shrine scene with detailed doorway architecture, practitioner in blue garment placing offering at threshold, attendants and lamps, refined palette."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वाथ = वा + अथ; तैर् = तैः; चार्चयेत् = च + अर्चयेत्; व्रजेद्दक्षिणदिग्भागं = व्रजेत् + दक्षिणदिग्भागम्; दद्याद्बलिं = दद्यात् + बलिम्।
Related Themes: Agni Purana: bali-vidhāna and dik-nyāsa/dik-bali discussions in puja sections; Agni Purana: Devī-upāsanā procedures in related chapters
FAQs
It prescribes a Devi-puja detail: worship using blue cloth/garments, then perform a directional movement to the south and place a bali offering at the doorway (a liminal ritual point).
It preserves precise procedural ritual technology—color-coded offerings, direction-based actions, and threshold bali-rites—showing the text’s practical coverage of temple/household worship protocols alongside other sciences.
By correctly honoring the Goddess and making a protective/appeasing bali at the threshold (especially in the southern quarter), the rite is understood to remove obstacles, pacify harmful influences, and secure ritual completeness (pūrṇatā) and merit.