Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 5
Nīrājana-vidhiḥ
Procedure of Nīrājana / Auspicious Lamp-Waving and Royal Propitiation
एकादश्यां सोपवासो द्वादश्यां केतुमुत्थितम् यजेद्वस्त्रादिसंवीतं घटस्थं सुरपं शचीं
ekādaśyāṃ sopavāso dvādaśyāṃ ketumutthitam yajedvastrādisaṃvītaṃ ghaṭasthaṃ surapaṃ śacīṃ
ଏକାଦଶୀରେ ଉପବାସ କରିବା ଉଚିତ। ଦ୍ୱାଦଶୀରେ (ଉପବାସ ଭଙ୍ଗ କରି) ଉଠି କେତୁଙ୍କୁ ପୂଜା କରିବା ଉଚିତ; ଏବଂ ବସ୍ତ୍ରାଦିରେ ସୁଶୋଭିତ, ଘଟରେ ଅବସ୍ଥିତ ଭାବେ ଆବାହିତ ଦେବାଧିପ (ଇନ୍ଦ୍ର)ଙ୍କ ପ୍ରିୟା ଶଚୀଙ୍କୁ ମଧ୍ୟ ପୂଜିବା ଉଚିତ।
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha in ritual procedure, typical Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Tithi-based vrata sequence: fast on Ekādaśī, perform worship on Dvādaśī—honoring Ketu and invoking Śacī in a kalaśa with garments and offerings—used for protection, auspiciousness, and royal/household welfare.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Ekādaśī Upavāsa & Dvādaśī Ketu-Śacī Kalaśa-pūjā","lookup_keywords":["ekādaśī-upavāsa","dvādaśī","ketu-pūjā","śacī-kalaśa","ghaṭastha-devī"],"quick_summary":"Observe fasting on the 11th lunar day, then on the 12th worship Ketu and Śacī invoked in a consecrated pot, offering cloth and adornments as part of a protective auspicious rite."}
Concept: Saṃyama (fasting discipline) followed by upacāra (offering) as a two-step purification and propitiation model.
Application: Use Ekādaśī restraint to prepare mind/body, then perform structured Dvādaśī worship with a consecrated kalaśa and prescribed offerings for graha-devatā appeasement.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Vrata & Devata-archana procedures)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A devotee/king fasting on Ekādaśī, then on Dvādaśī performing pūjā: a decorated kalaśa draped in cloth representing Śacī, alongside a Ketu emblem/yantra; offerings of flowers, incense, and lamps.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, ritual interior with kalaśa wrapped in bright cloth, priest offering lamp, Ketu symbol as serpent-flag motif on a panel, subdued sacred ambiance, traditional mural contours","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, richly adorned kalaśa with gold highlights and silk cloth, Śacī suggested through icon panel behind, Ketu yantra/emblem, heavy gold work on vessels and ornaments","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional altar layout: kalaśa, vastra, flowers, lamp, Ketu yantra placed clearly, fine linework and gentle colors","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate indoor worship scene with detailed utensils and textiles, kalaśa as central object, astrologer-priest present, Ketu emblem on a small standard, delicate architectural framing"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: sopavāso → sa-upavāsaḥ; ketumutthitam → ketum utthitam; yajedvastrādisaṃvītaṃ → yajet vastra-ādi-saṃvītam; ghaṭasthaṃ → ghaṭa-stham; surapaṃ → sura-pam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana graha-śānti and kalaśa-nyāsa/pūjā procedures (elsewhere in ritual sections); Agni Purana nīrājana/utsava-related chapters around 267
FAQs
It prescribes a tithi-based vrata sequence: fasting on Ekādaśī, then on Dvādaśī performing worship of Ketu and Śacī using kalasha-invocation (ghaṭastha) and offering garments and related upacāras.
It demonstrates the text’s practical ritual manual aspect—linking calendrical observance (tithi), Navagraha-related worship (Ketu), and structured pūjā technology (kalasha-sthāpana and upacāras) within a single concise instruction.
The pairing of fasting with prescribed worship functions as a purification-and-merit practice (vrata), aiming to pacify afflictive influences (especially graha-related) and to gain auspiciousness through disciplined observance and correct ritual performance.