Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 6
दमनकारोहणविधिः (Dāmanaka-ārohaṇa-vidhi) — Procedure for Raising/Placing the Dāmanaka Garland
यथाविधि समभ्यर्च्य सूर्यशङ्करपावकान् देवस्य पश्चिमे मूलं दद्यात्तस्य मृदा युतं
yathāvidhi samabhyarcya sūryaśaṅkarapāvakān devasya paścime mūlaṃ dadyāttasya mṛdā yutaṃ
เมื่อบูชาพระสุริยะ พระศังกร และพระปาวกะ (อัคนี) ตามพิธีแล้ว พึงวางมูละ (ราก) ไว้ด้านทิศตะวันตกขององค์เทพ พร้อมดิน/ดินเหนียวที่ได้ทำให้ศักดิ์สิทธิ์แล้ว।
Lord Agni (narrating ritual procedure to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Directional placement and consecration steps in temple/home pūjā: worship of specific deities followed by placing a ritual root/seed with sanctified earth at the deity’s west for completion of the rite.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Pūjā: Sūrya–Śaṅkara–Pāvaka arcana and western placement of mūla with mṛdā","lookup_keywords":["puja-vidhi","Surya worship","Shankara worship","Pavaka Agni","mūla mṛdā placement west"],"quick_summary":"After worshipping Sūrya, Śiva, and Agni in due order, the ritual ‘mūla’ is placed to the deity’s west together with consecrated earth/clay, marking a prescribed spatial completion of the offering."}
Concept: Ritual efficacy depends on vidhi (correct sequence) and dik-niyama (directional rule).
Application: Maintain consistent deity-orientation and place offerings exactly as prescribed to avoid doṣa in worship.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Temple Ritual Procedure / Devata-archana)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A worshipper before a deity-altar, having offered to Sūrya, Śiva, and Agni, now placing a small ‘mūla’ bundle mixed with consecrated clay on the west side of the deity’s pedestal.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat vibrant colors, deity on pedestal with lamp flames, priest placing a small root-and-clay offering to the west side, ritual vessels and flowers, sacred calm atmosphere.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf highlights on deity halo and ornaments, priest in profile placing mūla with mṛdā at the deity’s west, ornate altar, rich reds and greens, embossed gold detailing.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, delicate linework, instructional clarity: labeled directions (east/west/north/south) around the altar, priest placing root-and-clay offering on west, soft pastel palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, fine architectural interior of a shrine, detailed vessels and textures, worshipper placing a small root bundle with clay on the west side of the idol, balanced composition and subtle shading."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: yathāvidhi → yathā-vidhi (avyayībhāva); dadyāt tasya (written dadyāttasya) = dadyāt + tasya.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 80 (Pūjā-vidhi: dik-vinyāsa and dhāraṇa rules)
FAQs
It teaches a sequenced ritual step: after worshipping Surya, Shiva, and Agni, a practitioner should place/offer the designated mūla (root/base substance) on the deity’s western side, together with consecrated earth/clay (mṛdā).
Beyond myth, the Agni Purana preserves practical liturgical engineering—deity-worship sequences, directional rules, and specific ritual materials—showing its role as a manual of applied religious practice alongside other sciences.
Following prescribed worship and correct placement is treated as ritual correctness (vidhi), believed to secure purification and efficacy of the rite by aligning offerings, directions, and deities in an ordered sacramental act.