Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 14
Nīrājana-vidhiḥ
Procedure of Nīrājana / Auspicious Lamp-Waving and Royal Propitiation
शुक्लपक्षे तथाष्टम्यामायुधं कार्मुकं ध्वजम् छत्रञ्च राजलिङ्गानि शस्त्राद्यं कुसुमादिभिः
śuklapakṣe tathāṣṭamyāmāyudhaṃ kārmukaṃ dhvajam chatrañca rājaliṅgāni śastrādyaṃ kusumādibhiḥ
அதேபோல் சுக்லபக்ஷத்தின் அஷ்டமியில் ஆயுதங்களை—சிறப்பாக வில்லை—கொடி, குடை, அரசச் சின்னங்கள், மேலும் ஆயுதச் சாதனங்களை மலர் முதலியவற்றால் வழிபட வேண்டும்.
Lord Agni (teaching the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s instructional frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","practical_application":"State rite for Ayudha-pūjā on Śukla-aṣṭamī: consecrate and honor weapons and royal insignia to ensure legitimacy, readiness, and auspicious protection of the realm.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Ayudha-pūjā on Śukla-aṣṭamī: Bow, Banner, Parasol, and Royal Insignia","lookup_keywords":["aṣṭamī","śukla-pakṣa","āyudha-pūjā","kārmuka","rāja-liṅga"],"quick_summary":"Prescribes worship of weapons—especially the bow—along with banner, parasol, and royal emblems using flowers and offerings on the bright-fortnight eighth day for auspicious sovereignty and martial preparedness."}
Weapon Type: Bow (kārmuka) and other weapons (śastra)
Concept: Power (daṇḍa/śastra) must be ritually restrained and ethically integrated; royal symbols are to be honored as instruments of protection, not oppression.
Application: Institutionalize periodic weapon consecration with accountability: inventory, upkeep, and vows of just use aligned with rāja-dharma.
Khanda Section: Rājadharma & Rāja-lakṣaṇa (Royal insignia, statecraft-related observances)
Primary Rasa: Vira
Secondary Rasa: Shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ceremonial armory-pūjā: weapons—especially a bow—are arranged with flowers; the royal banner and parasol stand beside other insignia as priests and the king perform offerings on Śukla-aṣṭamī.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized armory altar with bow, swords, spears garlanded, tall dhvaja and white chatra, king and priest offering flowers, oil lamps, strong reds and greens, formal symmetry.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central bow and royal insignia on a pedestal with gold foil highlights, king in regal attire offering flowers, ornate borders, jewel-toned palette, ceremonial grandeur.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear instructional layout of items: bow, banner, parasol, weapons labeled, priest performing pūjā with flowers, minimal background, fine linework.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed armory courtyard, weapons displayed on carpets, banner fluttering, parasol held by attendant, king and clerics in attendance, crisp architectural detailing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तथाष्टम्यामायुधं = तथा + अष्टम्याम् + आयुधम्; छत्रञ्च = छत्रम् + च (म् + च → ञ्च); शस्त्राद्यं = शस्त्र + आद्यम्; कुसुमादिभिः = कुसुम + आदिभिः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: rājadharma and rāja-lakṣaṇa discussions; Agni Purana: pūjā-vidhi for auspicious days and offerings
FAQs
It prescribes a calendrical observance: on Śuklapakṣa Aṣṭamī, weapons (notably the bow) and royal emblems (dhvaja, chatra, rāja-liṅga) are to be ritually honored with standard pūjā-offerings such as flowers.
Alongside theology, the Agni Purāṇa records practical civil-military culture—state insignia, martial equipment, and their sanctioned rites—showing how governance and public power were integrated into ritual life.
Ritual honoring of arms and royal symbols sacralizes authority and duty, aiming at purification of instruments of power and the righteous exercise of protection (rakṣaṇa) rather than harm.