Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 8
दमनकारोहणविधिः (Dāmanaka-ārohaṇa-vidhi) — Procedure for Raising/Placing the Dāmanaka Garland
पुटिकास्थं फलं मूलमथैशान्यां यजेच्छिवं पञ्चाङ्गमञ्जलौ कृत्वा आमन्त्र्य शिरसि न्यसेत्
puṭikāsthaṃ phalaṃ mūlamathaiśānyāṃ yajecchivaṃ pañcāṅgamañjalau kṛtvā āmantrya śirasi nyaset
พึงบูชาพระศิวะในทิศอีศานะ (ตะวันออกเฉียงเหนือ) เมื่อวางผลและมูละ (ราก) ที่เก็บในถุงเล็ก (ปุฏิกา) ลงในฝ่ามือที่ประนมรองรับ แล้วอัญเชิญด้วยมนต์ จึงวางไว้บนศีรษะ।
Lord Agni (in dialogue, instructing sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Procedure for Īśāna (north-east) oriented Śiva worship, including holding offerings in añjali, invocation, and placing the invoked offering on the head as a sanctifying act.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Īśāna-diśi Śiva-pūjā: puṭikā-stha phala-mūla, pañcāṅga-añjali, āmantraṇa and śiro-nyāsa","lookup_keywords":["Ishana direction","Shiva puja","puṭikā","pañcāṅga añjali","śiro-nyāsa"],"quick_summary":"Worship Śiva facing/using the north-east; keep fruit and root in a small pouch, hold them in cupped hands, invoke, and place upon the head to seal the blessing."}
Concept: Nyāsa-like sanctification: what is invoked is ritually ‘installed’ on the body (head) to internalize grace.
Application: During Śiva worship, perform a brief invocation and touch/raise the sanctified offering to the head as a sign of acceptance and protection.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Shaiva worship and ritual procedure)
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A devotee in a shrine’s north-east corner worshipping Śiva, holding a small pouch with fruit and root in cupped hands, invoking, then lifting and touching it to the crown of the head.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Śiva in serene form, NE corner marked by architectural cues, priest with añjali holding a small pouch, gesture of placing on head, oil-lamp glow, deep greens and reds.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Śiva with gold halo and ornate frame, devotee with puṭikā in hands, moment of śiro-nyāsa, heavy gold embellishment on altar and ornaments.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear step-by-step depiction: cupped hands with pouch, invocation posture, then head-touch gesture; soft shading, instructional clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate shrine interior, detailed textiles and pouch, devotee raising offering to head before a Śiva liṅga or seated Śiva, fine brushwork and subdued palette."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: mūlamathaiśānyām = mūlam + atha + aiśānyām; yajecchivam = yajet + śivam; pañcāṅgamañjalau = pañca-aṅga-mañjalau.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 80 (Śaiva worship procedures; dik and nyāsa gestures)
FAQs
It teaches a Shaiva pūjā step: worship in the Īśāna (north-east) direction, invoke the deity/mantra, hold the offering in añjali, and ritually place it on the head as an act of reverential application (nyāsa-like placing).
Beyond mythology, it preserves procedural liturgy—directional worship (dik-vidhi), invocation (āmantraṇa), and handling of offerings—showing the Agni Purana as a manual of applied ritual practice alongside its other sciences.
Placing the invoked offering on the head signifies surrender and highest honor to Śiva; it is a bodily act of devotion that supports purification and merit through correct, reverent ritual observance.