Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 10
Chapter 76 — चण्डपूजाकथनम्
Narration of the Worship of Caṇḍa/Caṇḍeśa
गोभूहिरण्यवस्त्रादिमणिहेमादिभूषणं विहाय शेसनिर्माल्यं चण्डेशाय निवेदयेत्
gobhūhiraṇyavastrādimaṇihemādibhūṣaṇaṃ vihāya śesanirmālyaṃ caṇḍeśāya nivedayet
พึงงดการถวายทาน เช่น โค ที่ดิน ทองคำ เครื่องนุ่งห่ม อัญมณี และเครื่องประดับทอง แล้วให้นำ “นิรมาลยะ” ที่เหลืออยู่ (ของคงค้างอันศักดิ์สิทธิ์จากการบูชา) ไปน้อมถวายแด่จัณฑேศะ.
Lord Agni (in dialogue instruction to Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Temple protocol for offerings: restrict certain valuable gifts to Caṇḍeśa and instead offer nirmālya (worship remnants/garlands) as his proper share.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Caṇḍeśa’s Share: Nirmālya Offering and Prohibited Dāna Items","lookup_keywords":["Caṇḍeśa","nirmālya","śeṣa","dāna restriction","Śaiva pūjā"],"quick_summary":"Do not offer high-value gifts (cattle, land, gold, garments, jewels) to Caṇḍeśa; offer the remaining sacred garlands/remnants (nirmālya) as his appropriate naivedya-share."}
Concept: Ritual propriety: offerings must match the deity’s ordained entitlement; sacred remnants have designated recipients.
Application: In temple practice, reserve nirmālya for Caṇḍeśa per rule; avoid misdirecting wealth-gifts that belong to other ritual channels (main deity/temple endowment).
Khanda Section: Pūjā-vidhi (Śaiva temple ritual and offerings)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A priest sets aside valuable gifts and respectfully places the sacred leftover garlands (nirmālya) before Caṇḍeśa’s shrine or icon within a Śaiva temple.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Caṇḍeśa near the temple corridor, priest holding faded yet sacred garlands, offerings arranged, subdued sacred lighting, emphasis on ritual cleanliness.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, Caṇḍeśa icon with gold halo, priest presenting nirmālya garlands, rich ornamentation, clear separation of ‘set aside’ valuables in the background.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, didactic layout: left side shows prohibited gifts (cow, land deed, gold, cloth), right side shows nirmālya offered to Caṇḍeśa, fine lines and soft colors.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, temple interior with attendants, a tray of garlands offered to a small Caṇḍeśa shrine, detailed textiles and objects indicating the ‘set aside’ valuables."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: Compound gobhūhiraṇyavastrādimaṇihemādibhūṣaṇam analyzed as a single samāsa with multiple members and ‘ādi’ markers.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 76 (sections on upacāra, naivedya, nirmālya distribution)
FAQs
It gives a specific pūjā rule: valuable donations like cattle, land, gold, clothing, jewels, and ornaments are not to be offered to Caṇḍeśa; rather, the śeṣa-nirmālya (worship remnants/garlands) should be offered to him.
It preserves detailed temple-protocol (pūjā-vidhi) by distinguishing categories of offerings and assigning the correct ritual recipient (Caṇḍeśa), reflecting the text’s practical coverage of liturgy alongside other disciplines.
Correctly handling nirmālya and directing it to the proper deity/ritual functionary is treated as maintaining ritual purity and order (dharma), thereby supporting merit (puṇya) and avoiding faults from mis-offering sacred remnants.