Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 16
Chapter 23 — पूजाविधिकथनम्
The Account of the Rules of Worship
देवस्य वामतो दक्षे चेषुधी खड्गमेव च वामे चर्म श्रियं दक्षे पुष्टिं वामेग्रतो न्यसेत्
devasya vāmato dakṣe ceṣudhī khaḍgameva ca vāme carma śriyaṃ dakṣe puṣṭiṃ vāmegrato nyaset
தேவனின் இடப்புறமும் வலப்புறமும் முறையே அம்புத்தொட்டி (இஷுதி) மற்றும் வாளை நிறுவ வேண்டும். இடப்புறம் கேடயம், வலப்புறம் ஸ்ரீ (லக்ஷ்மி), இடப்புறம் புஷ்டி; முன்னால் விதிப்படி அனைத்தையும் அமைக்க வேண்டும்.
Lord Agni (in discourse to the sage Vasiṣṭha, as is typical for Agni Purāṇa instructional chapters)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Puja-vidhi placement (nyasa/āvaraṇa) of the deity’s weapons and attendant powers around the main icon to establish a ritually correct sacred space.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Āyudha-śakti-nyāsa around the deity (quiver, sword, shield, Śrī, Puṣṭi)","lookup_keywords":["āyudha-nyāsa","iṣu-dhī (quiver)","khaḍga (sword)","carma (shield)","Śrī Puṣṭi placement"],"quick_summary":"Arrange the deity’s martial emblems and auspicious powers by fixed directions (left/right/front) as part of installation/worship, ensuring iconographic and ritual correctness."}
Weapon Type: Quiver (iṣudhī), sword (khaḍga), shield (carma)
Concept: External arrangement (bāhya-nyāsa) supports internal focus by establishing a complete divine ‘court’ of powers and protections around the iṣṭa-devatā.
Application: Use consistent directional placements to avoid ritual ‘doṣa’ and to stabilize visualization during worship.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Iconography and Deity-installation / Nyasa for worship)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: śānta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A central Vaiṣṇava deity on an altar with ritual placements: quiver and sword flanking, shield on the left, Śrī on the right, Puṣṭi on the left, and offerings arranged in front in a neat prescribed order.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat vivid colors, central Viṣṇu icon on pīṭha, attendants labeled Śrī and Puṣṭi, quiver and sword placed symmetrically, shield on left, ritual vessels in front, ornate floral borders, sacred geometry feel","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, seated Viṣṇu with rich jewelry and halo, gold-leaf highlights, Śrī on right side, Puṣṭi on left, quiver and sword flanking, shield on left, front offerings with lamps and kalasha, deep red and green palette","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean linework and soft shading, instructional altar layout diagram-like composition showing left/right/front placements of quiver, sword, shield, Śrī, Puṣṭi around the deity, minimal background, emphasis on correct positions","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly shrine interior, central deity image on pedestal, attendants personifying Śrī and Puṣṭi, weapons arranged left/right, detailed textiles and carpets, precise spatial arrangement, fine brushwork"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वामेग्रतः → वामे + अग्रतः; खड्गमेव → खड्गम् + एव; (अनुस्वार/विसर्ग-सन्धि सामान्य).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 23 (Pūjā-vidhi: nyāsa/āvaraṇa/pariṣkāra sections); Agni Purana iconography/śilpa portions describing Vaiṣṇava āyudhas and attendant śaktis
FAQs
It gives a practical puja-vidhi instruction: the prescribed spatial placement (nyāsa/arrangement) of the deity’s weapons (quiver, sword, shield) and attendant personifications (Śrī and Puṣṭi) around the icon during worship.
Beyond theology, it preserves applied ritual-technology—iconography, temple layout logic, and worship choreography—showing the Agni Purāṇa’s coverage of concrete liturgical procedures alongside broader religious teaching.
Correct placement is treated as ritual correctness (śāstra-sammata), believed to stabilize the worship space, honor the deity’s attributes, and support the intended fruits of worship—prosperity (Śrī) and nourishment/increase (Puṣṭi).