Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 10
Chapter 40 — भूपरिग्रहो नाम
Bhū-parigraha) / अर्घ्यदानविधानम् (Arghya-dāna-vidhāna
नागपुष्पैः पदे नागं मुख्यं भक्ष्यैर् द्विसंस्थितं मुद्गौदनेन भल्लाटं पदे सोमं पदे तथा
nāgapuṣpaiḥ pade nāgaṃ mukhyaṃ bhakṣyair dvisaṃsthitaṃ mudgaudanena bhallāṭaṃ pade somaṃ pade tathā
Com flores nāga (nāga-puṣpa), no quadrante designado deve-se colocar o Nāga (divindade serpente). Na posição principal (central), deve-se colocar a oferenda principal de alimentos, disposta em duas porções. Com arroz cozido misturado com mudga (feijão-mungo), deve-se colocar (uma oferenda) para Bhallāṭa; e igualmente, em outro quadrante, (uma oferenda) para Soma.
Lord Agni (in discourse to the sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Bali/naivedya placement for Nāga, central dual-portion main offering, and specific deities (Bhallāṭa, Soma) using nāga-flowers and mudga-odana; supports correct quarter-wise ritual provisioning.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Bali placements: Nāga with nāga-puṣpa; main dual-portion naivedya; Bhallāṭa with mudga-odana; Soma by quarter","lookup_keywords":["nāga-puṣpa","nāga-bali","mudga-odana","bhallāṭa","soma-offering"],"quick_summary":"Place Nāga with nāga-flowers in the designated quarter; set the chief naivedya in the center as two portions; offer mudga-odana to Bhallāṭa and place Soma’s offering in its assigned quarter."}
Concept: Cosmic order mirrored in ritual space: deities/forces receive appropriate dravya and position, sustaining harmony and protection.
Application: Construct a consistent bali-maṇḍala: center and quarters with correct substances to secure protection (Nāga) and auspiciousness (Soma).
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Ritual offerings and bali/naivedya arrangements)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual mandala around a shrine: in one quarter a Nāga symbol with nāga-flowers; in the center a main platter of eatables divided into two portions; nearby a bowl of mudga-odana labeled for Bhallāṭa; another quarter marked for Soma’s offering.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, circular bali-maṇḍala around a small shrine, serpent emblem with nāga-flowers, central dual-portion naivedya, Soma indicated with moon motif, earthy palette and bold contours.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central naivedya plate with gold embossing split into two, nāga-flowers rendered with gold highlights near a stylized serpent, Soma with crescent halo, rich ornamental borders.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore instructional painting, top-down plan of offerings by quarters, clear labels for Nāga/Bhallāṭa/Soma, depiction of mudga-odana texture, clean and didactic.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined top-view of a ritual floor with trays placed in quarters, serpent motif with flowers, central divided platter, moon emblem for Soma, intricate carpet patterns."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: नागपुष्पैः = नाग + पुष्पैः; भक्ष्यैः + द्विसंस्थितम् → भक्ष्यैर् द्विसंस्थितम्; मुद्ग + औदनेन → मुद्गौदनेन.
Related Themes: Agni Purana ch. 40 bali/naivedya placement lists; Agni Purana puja-vidhi chapters on dikpāla/attendant offerings
FAQs
It prescribes a bali/naivedya layout by pada (ritual positions): nāga-flowers for the Nāga offering, a chief central placement of principal eatables in two portions, and specific food (mudga-odana) assigned to a named recipient (Bhallāṭa), with a separate placement for Soma.
It exemplifies the text’s procedural ritualism—mapping deities/spirits to spatial quarters and prescribing exact materials (flowers, specific cooked preparations). Such operational details function like a manual, alongside the Purāṇa’s coverage of many other disciplines.
Correctly assigning offerings to their proper deities and positions is treated as a means of ritual completeness (pūrṇatā), appeasement (śānti) of associated powers like Nāgas, and securing auspiciousness through orderly worship.