Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 3
Chapter 247 — पुष्पादिपूजाफलं
Fruits of Worship with Flowers and Other Offerings
अशोकस्तिलकः कुन्दः पूजायै स्यात्तमालजं बिल्वपत्रं शमीपत्रं पत्रं भृङ्गरजस्य तु
aśokastilakaḥ kundaḥ pūjāyai syāttamālajaṃ bilvapatraṃ śamīpatraṃ patraṃ bhṛṅgarajasya tu
Para a adoração ritual, recomendam-se as flores aśoka, tilaka e kunda; do mesmo modo, prescrevem-se a folha de tamāla, as folhas de bilva, as folhas de śamī e também as folhas de bhṛṅgarāja.
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Guidance on acceptable flowers and leaves for worship, helping practitioners choose proper patra-puṣpa for arcana and avoid unsuitable offerings.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Pūjā-yogya puṣpa-patra (aśoka, tilaka, kunda; tamāla, bilva, śamī, bhṛṅgarāja leaves)","lookup_keywords":["aśoka","bilva-patra","śamī-patra","bhṛṅgarāja","pūjā-dravya"],"quick_summary":"The verse enumerates flowers and leaves suitable for ritual worship, functioning as a practical checklist for daily pūjā materials."}
Concept: Dravya-śuddhi and niyama (right materials and restraint) as supports for effective worship.
Application: Maintain a home/temple offering garden or source seasonally appropriate leaves/flowers; keep offerings clean and intact.
Khanda Section: Pūjā-vidhi (Ritual Worship Materials and Offerings)
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A worship tray containing aśoka, tilaka, and kunda flowers, alongside neatly arranged tamāla, bilva, śamī, and bhṛṅgarāja leaves before a small shrine.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized pūjā-thāli with distinct leaves (bilva trifoliate, śamī) and white kunda blossoms, lamp and bell, shrine backdrop with ornamental borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, richly decorated altar with gold accents, foreground offering plate with identifiable leaves and blossoms, deep reds/greens, temple arch framing.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear botanical accuracy: labeled leaves and flowers arranged symmetrically on a tray, priest’s hand offering them, soft shading and fine outlines.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, still-life-like offering arrangement with meticulous leaf textures, small shrine niche, attendant holding a tray, refined palette and detail."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अशोकस्तिलकः = अशोकः + तिलकः; स्यात्तमालजं = स्यात् + तमालजम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Puja-vidhi: upacāra lists, patra-puṣpa-niyama, and arcana procedures (same adhyāya)
FAQs
It lists specific flowers and leaves sanctioned for pūjā—ashoka, tilaka, kunda, and the leaves of tamāla, bilva, śamī, and bhṛṅgarāja—guiding correct selection of ritual offerings.
By cataloging practical pūjā-materials (dravyas) such as particular plant leaves and flowers, the text functions as a ritual manual alongside its many other domains (law, polity, medicine, arts), reflecting its wide-ranging, reference-like character.
Using prescribed, pure offerings in worship is traditionally held to increase ritual efficacy (pūjā-phala), support purification (śuddhi), and align the devotee’s action with śāstric injunctions, thereby generating merit (puṇya).