Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 2
Gaṇeśa-pūjā-vidhiḥ
The Procedure for Worship of Gaṇeśa
गजकर्णिने च शिखा गजवक्त्राय वर्म च महोदराय स्वदन्तहस्तायाक्षि तथास्त्रकम्
gajakarṇine ca śikhā gajavaktrāya varma ca mahodarāya svadantahastāyākṣi tathāstrakam
สำหรับ ‘คชกรรณิน’ ให้กำหนดศิขา (จุกยอด); สำหรับ ‘คชวักตระ’ ให้กำหนดวรมะ (เกราะ/กวัจ); สำหรับ ‘มโหทร’ ให้กำหนดดวงตา; และสำหรับ ‘สวทันตหัสตะ’ ให้กำหนดมนตร์อัสตระ (มนตร์อาวุธ) เช่นกัน।
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Protective nyāsa/kavaca in Gaṇeśa-pūjā: assigning specific mantra-names to body-parts (śikhā, varma, akṣi, astra) to seal and safeguard the sādhaka before worship and japa.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Gaṇeśa-kavaca aṅga-nyāsa (Gajakarṇin–Gajavaktra–Mahodara–Svadantahasta)","lookup_keywords":["nyasa","kavaca","Gajakarṇin","Gajavaktra","Mahodara"],"quick_summary":"Map Gaṇeśa’s epithets to specific aṅgas: śikhā, armor, eyes, and astra-mantra, creating a ritual ‘protective body’ prior to pūjā."}
Concept: Devatā-aṅga-sambandha: the deity’s names are installed as living protections on the practitioner’s body.
Application: Use nyāsa to cultivate steadiness, remove fear/obstacles, and ritually qualify oneself for mantra-japa and pūjā.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Mantra-nyasa (Ganesha-related protective nyasa and kavaca elements)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sādhaka performs Gaṇeśa aṅga-nyāsa: touching crown-tuft, chest as armor, eyes, and projecting an astra-seal, while visualizing Gaṇeśa with elephant ears/face, large belly, and tusk in hand.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, warm earthy palette, Gaṇeśa with broad gaja-karṇa and gaja-vaktra, mahodara, holding broken tusk; priest in white performing nyāsa gestures to śikhā, chest, eyes; sacred yantra lines faintly behind; flat iconic composition.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Gaṇeśa seated with mahodara, ornate crown, broken tusk in hand; gold foil highlights on jewelry and halo; devotee at side touching head and chest in nyāsa; rich red background, temple lamp glow.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean linework showing stepwise nyāsa: labeled body points (śikhā, varma, akṣi, astra) in subtle Sanskrit callouts; Gaṇeśa icon at top; soft pastel wash and delicate ornamentation.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate indoor shrine scene: devotee performing precise hand-gestures to head, chest, eyes; small Gaṇeśa idol with elephant features and tusk; detailed textiles, manuscript on a low stand, fine brushwork."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"protective","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: स्वदन्तहस्तायाक्षि = स्वदन्तहस्ताय + अक्षि; तथास्त्रकम् = तथा + अस्त्रकम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa 71 (pūjā-vidhi, nyāsa, kavaca context)
FAQs
It teaches a nyāsa-style assignment of protective limbs/placements (śikhā, varma/kavaca, eyes, and astra-mantra) to specific epithets of Gaṇeśa used in worship for protection and sealing the rite.
Beyond myth, the Agni Purana preserves practical ritual technology—mantra-nyāsa, kavaca concepts, and deity-epithet mapping—showing it functions as a compact manual of applied worship alongside its many other disciplines.
Nyāsa and the astra-seal are intended to sanctify the body as a mantra-seat, establish protective boundaries (kavaca), and remove obstacles—thereby supporting purity, steadiness in worship, and auspicious results.