Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 18
Nīrājana-vidhiḥ
Procedure of Nīrājana / Auspicious Lamp-Waving and Royal Propitiation
ततः प्रभृति कर्तव्यं यावत् स्वातौ रविः स्थितः ब्रह्मा विष्णुश् च शम्भुश् च शक्रश् चैवानलानिलौ
tataḥ prabhṛti kartavyaṃ yāvat svātau raviḥ sthitaḥ brahmā viṣṇuś ca śambhuś ca śakraś caivānalānilau
அதன்பின் சூரியன் ஸ்வாதியில் நிலைத்திருக்கும் வரையில் இக்கிரியை செய்ய வேண்டும்—பிரம்மா, விஷ்ணு, சம்பு, சக்ரன் (இந்திரன்) மேலும் அக்னி, வாயு ஆகியோரைக் நினைத்து/ஆவாஹனம் செய்து.
Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purana narration to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Jyotisha","practical_application":"Maintain the observance continuously throughout the Svātī solar-nakṣatra period, invoking a specific protective pantheon (Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Śiva, Indra, Agni, Vāyu) as the rite’s guardians.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Svātī-paryanta pūjā-kāla with ṣaḍ-devatā-smaraṇa","lookup_keywords":["Svātī-kāla","Brahmā","Viṣṇu","Śambhu","Śakra","Agni Vāyu"],"quick_summary":"Once begun at Svātī entry, the rite continues as long as the Sun remains in Svātī, supported by remembrance/invocation of major deities representing cosmic functions and protection."}
Concept: Ritual continuity (yāvat-kāla) and deity-networking: aligning worship with cosmic offices stabilizes the practitioner’s intent and protection.
Application: Define start/end by pañcāṅga Svātī boundaries; keep daily pūjā/recitation consistent during that window and include the named deities in saṅkalpa/āvāhana.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Vrata-kalpa (Ritual timing and observance)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual calendar marks the Svātī period while the worshipper invokes six deities in sequence, visualized as a protective circle around the altar.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, central home/temple altar, surrounding iconic forms of Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Śiva, Indra, Agni, Vāyu in a circular mandala, palm-leaf calendar indicating Svātī, lamp-lit sacred ambience","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central altar with gold-work, six deity medallions around it, Svātī nakṣatra symbol near Sun disc, ornate devotional composition with embossed halos","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, diagrammatic yet elegant: Svātī time-band at top, below a stepwise invocation panel of the six deities, clear labels and ritual implements","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholar-priest consulting almanac, small vignettes of six deities in cloud cartouches, refined interior with textiles and incense smoke"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: विष्णुश् = विष्णुः; शम्भुश् = शम्भुः; शक्रश् = शक्रः; चैव = च एव; अनलानिलौ = अनल-अनिलौ (द्वन्द्व)
Related Themes: Agni Purana: lists of devatā-āvāhana in rakṣā-vidhi and vrata-kalpa sections (same puja-vidhi run)
FAQs
It gives a kāla-nirṇaya rule: the rite is to be carried out beginning at a specified point and continued while the Sun is in the Svātī nakṣatra, with explicit deva-smaraṇa/invocation of major deities (Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Śiva, Indra, Agni, Vāyu).
It integrates Jyotiṣa (nakṣatra-based timing) with practical ritual procedure (pujā/vrata performance and deity invocation), illustrating how the Agni Purana compiles cross-disciplinary rules—astronomy/astrology, liturgy, and devotional protocol—into one manual-like corpus.
By performing the observance in an auspicious astral window (Svātī) and invoking key deities, the act is framed as more efficacious—supporting purification, protection, and merit (puṇya) through correct timing and sanctioned divine remembrance.