Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 5
Ayuta–Lakṣa–Koṭi Fire-offerings (अयुतलक्षकोटिहोमाः) — Graha-yajña Vidhi
इन्द्र ऐन्द्री देवता च प्रजेशो ऽहिर्विधिः क्रमात् एते प्रत्यधिदेवाश् च गणेशो दुर्गयानिलः
indra aindrī devatā ca prajeśo 'hirvidhiḥ kramāt ete pratyadhidevāś ca gaṇeśo durgayānilaḥ
इन्द्रः ऐन्द्री देवता च प्रजेशोऽहिर्विधिः क्रमात्। एते प्रत्यधिदेवाश्च; गणेशो दुर्गा चानिलः सह स्मृताः।
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional dialogue framework)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Jyotisha","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Mapping of (praty-)adhidevatās for ritual nyāsa: assigning secondary presiding deities to directions/grahas to complete the protective and functional deity-network in graha rites.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Praty-Adhidevatā Mapping (Indra, Aindrī, Prajeśa, Ahi, Vidhi; with Gaṇeśa, Durgā, Anila)","lookup_keywords":["pratyadhidevata","Aindri","Prajesha","Ahi","Ganesha Durga Anila"],"quick_summary":"Provides a roster of secondary presiding deities used to ‘back’ the main placements in ritual nyāsa, strengthening direction/graha governance and removing obstacles."}
Concept: Layered divinity: primary forces are stabilized by secondary presences (praty-adhidevatā), reflecting a hierarchical cosmology used for effective rites.
Application: In graha/diśā pūjā, include praty-adhidevatā offerings (especially Gaṇeśa/Durgā) to prevent obstacles and ensure rakṣā.
Khanda Section: Jyotisha / Devata-Nyasa and Pratyadhidevata Mapping (Encyclopedic lists of deities)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A maṇḍala with a secondary ring of deities: Indra with vajra, Aindrī beside him, Brahmā (Prajeśa/Vidhi) with four faces, a coiled serpent (Ahi) as power-symbol, Gaṇeśa at the threshold, Durgā as guardian, and Vāyu/Anila as a wind-bearing figure.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, concentric deity ring around a central yantra, Gaṇeśa at the entrance side, Durgā in protective stance, Vāyu as flowing scarf and wind motifs, serpent emblem for Ahi","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold halos and embossed jewelry, Indra-Aindrī paired, Brahmā four-faced, Gaṇeśa richly ornamented, Durgā with weapons, Vāyu with fluttering drapery, ornate border","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, didactic layout labeling each praty-adhidevatā, clean spacing, soft shading, emphasis on recognizable attributes","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, ritual diagram on a carpet with painted deity medallions, Indra and Aindrī as royal couple, Brahmā as sage-king, serpent motif, Gaṇeśa and Durgā as guardians, delicate linework"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: प्रजेशो ऽहिर्विधिः = प्रजेशः + अहिः + विधिः; प्रत्यधिदेवाश् = प्रत्यधिदेवाः; दुर्गयानिलः = दुर्गया + अनिलः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Nyāsa and āvaraṇa-devatā listings in ritual chapters; Agni Purana: Vighna-śānti/gaṇeśa-pūjā preliminaries
FAQs
It supplies a keyed list of praty-adhidevatās—paired presiding deities used for ritual placement (nyāsa), meditative installation, and correspondence-based worship schemes common to Jyotiṣa and tantric-style upāsanā.
By cataloging deity correspondences (Indra–Aindrī, Prajēśa/Vidhi, Ahi, etc.) it functions like a reference index for practitioners—typical of the Agni Purana’s compendium style that preserves lists, mappings, and technical nomenclature across ritual sciences.
Correctly knowing and invoking the appropriate presiding and counter-presiding deities is held to make worship ‘accurate’ (yathā-vidhi), removing obstacles (Gaṇeśa), granting protection (Durgā), and aligning the practitioner with cosmic forces (Indra/Vāyu), thereby supporting purification and efficacy of rites.