Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 7
Chapter 34 — होमादिविधिः
The Procedure for Homa and Related Rites
आनन्दनन्दनौ दक्षे वीरसेनः सुषेणकः सम्भवप्रभवौ सौम्ये द्वारपांश् चैव पूजयेत्
ānandanandanau dakṣe vīrasenaḥ suṣeṇakaḥ sambhavaprabhavau saumye dvārapāṃś caiva pūjayet
Справа у дверного проёма следует почитать Ананду и Нандану; на южной стороне — Вирасену и Сушенаку; слева — Самбхаву и Прабхаву; так надлежит поклоняться стражам врат.
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sages, in the Agni Purana’s ritual-vidhi discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Doorway protection in temple/home worship by installing and honoring specific dvārapāla-devatās at cardinal sides to prevent ritual obstacles and maintain sanctity of entry.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Dvārapāla-pūjā: placement of Ānanda–Nandana, Vīrasena–Suṣeṇaka, Sambhava–Prabhava","lookup_keywords":["dvārapāla","Ānanda Nandana","Vīrasena Suṣeṇaka","Sambhava Prabhava","doorway worship"],"quick_summary":"Worship specific guardian-deities at the doorway by side/direction before entering the worship space; this establishes ritual protection and orderly ingress."}
Concept: Liminal spaces require protection and right-order (ṛta) through honoring attendant powers before approaching the deity.
Application: Before pūjā, consciously mark the threshold as sacred by offering to guardians; reduces distraction and frames worship as disciplined approach.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Dvārapāla-pūjā / Protective Deities in Worship)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A temple doorway with three paired guardian-deities positioned by side/direction as the worshipper offers flowers and incense before entering.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: richly colored temple doorway, lamp-lit threshold, six dvārapālas in paired groups at right, south, and left positions; devotee offering flowers; flat perspective, ornate borders, traditional jewelry and crowns.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting: gilded doorway arch with embossed gold, paired guardians with bright silks and heavy ornaments; devotee with plate of flowers; deep reds and greens, halo-like aureoles.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting: clean linework showing precise placement of guardians around the door-jambs; instructional composition with subtle gold highlights; calm devotional atmosphere.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: architectural doorway with detailed stone inlay; attendants/guardians in courtly attire flanking the entrance; devotee approaching with offerings; fine brushwork and pastel palette."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: dvārapāṃś caiva → dvārapān + ca + eva (anusvāra before ś from caiva; accusative plural -ān).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 34 (Pūjā-vidhi sections on dvāra/maṇḍapa-śuddhi and rakṣā)
FAQs
It specifies a directional/positional protocol for dvārapāla-pūjā: which named door-guardians are to be worshipped on the right, the southern side, and the left (saumya) side of the entrance.
Beyond mythology, it preserves applied temple-ritual know-how—listing specific guardian-deity names and their placement—typical of the Agni Purana’s catalog-like coverage of pūjā-vidhi, vāstu-linked orientation, and protective rites.
Worship of dvārapālas is a protective rite: it is meant to remove obstacles at the threshold, safeguard the sanctified space, and help ensure the main deity’s worship proceeds without ritual impediments (vighna-śānti).