Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 10
Nīrājana-vidhiḥ
Procedure of Nīrājana / Auspicious Lamp-Waving and Royal Propitiation
समुद्रा श्रीर्मही गौरी चण्डिका च सरस्वती प्रवर्तयन्तु ते तेजो जय शक्र शचीपते
samudrā śrīrmahī gaurī caṇḍikā ca sarasvatī pravartayantu te tejo jaya śakra śacīpate
समुद्रा श्रीर्मही गौरी चण्डिका च सरस्वती। प्रवर्तयन्तु ते तेजो जय शक्र शचीपते॥
Lord Agni (narrating the stotra/mantra material in Agni Purana)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Stotra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"A victory-benediction addressed to Indra (Śakra) invoking multiple goddesses/powers (Samudrā, Śrī, Mahī, Gaurī, Caṇḍikā, Sarasvatī) to activate and increase tejas—used in protective rites, royal blessings, and auspicious commencements.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Mantra","entry_title":"Śakti-Samuccaya for Śakra: Samudrā–Śrī–Mahī–Gaurī–Caṇḍikā–Sarasvatī","lookup_keywords":["Śakra","Śacīpati","tejas","Śrī","Caṇḍikā"],"quick_summary":"Invokes a cluster of feminine divine powers—prosperity, earth, auspiciousness, fierce protection, and knowledge—to propel the recipient’s radiance and secure victory. Practically, it is a compact mantra-like stuti for empowerment and success."}
Alamkara Type: Samuccaya (aggregation) and Jaya-śabda prayoga (victory acclamation)
Weapon Type: Vajra (Indra); weapons implied for Caṇḍikā
Concept: Tejas is energized through coordinated śakti-principles—prosperity (Śrī), knowledge (Sarasvatī), protection (Caṇḍikā), auspiciousness (Gaurī), and stability (Mahī/Samudrā).
Application: In prayer/ritual, invoke complementary divine powers (artha, vidyā, rakṣā) to balance success: wealth, wisdom, protection, and grounded stability.
Khanda Section: Stotra-Mantra (Indra-stuti / Devī-samarpaṇa within Purāṇic ritual praise)
Primary Rasa: Vira
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A triumphant blessing: multiple goddesses—ocean, prosperity, earth, auspicious Gaurī, fierce Caṇḍikā, and Sarasvatī—radiate toward Indra, propelling his tejas as the cry of victory is proclaimed.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, semicircle of goddesses with distinct attributes (lotus, vīṇā, lion, ocean waves, earth motifs) sending rays of light to Indra with vajra, dramatic yet balanced composition, rich reds/ochres/greens","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central Indra with gold halo, surrounding goddesses in medallions, heavy gold foil for jewelry and rays of tejas, lotus base, ornate temple arch, ‘Jaya Śakra’ banner","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear iconographic labeling of each goddess, gentle gradients, instructional arrangement showing attributes and their ‘tejas’ rays converging on Śakra","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, celestial assembly with elegant feminine figures personifying ocean/earth/prosperity/learning, fine textiles and jewelry, Indra receiving radiance, calligraphic cartouche reading ‘jaya’"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: श्रीर्मही → श्रीः + मही; ते तेजो → ते + तेजः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana devī-stuti and śakti-related invocations (general); Agni Purana stotra sections with jaya-mantras and tejas-vardhana blessings (general)
FAQs
It functions as a stuti-mantra: invoking a cluster of goddesses to augment the recipient’s tejas (radiant power/royal-spiritual efficacy) and concluding with a victory acclamation to Indra (Śakra).
It exemplifies the text’s stotra-and-mantra layer—cataloging deities, epithets, and ritualized praise formulas alongside other domains (rites, polity, medicine, poetics), showing Agni Purana’s multi-genre, compendious scope.
The verse seeks śakti-sambandha (alignment with divine powers) for the growth of tejas—traditionally linked to protection, success, and auspiciousness—while honoring Indra as the victorious lord, reinforcing dharmic aspiration for strength used rightly.