Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 47
Chapter 83 — निर्वाणदीक्षाकथनम्
Description of the Nirvāṇa Initiation
पूजाविसर्जनञ्चास्य चण्डेशस्य च पूजनं निर्माल्यमपनीयाथ शेषमग्नौ यजेच्चरोः
pūjāvisarjanañcāsya caṇḍeśasya ca pūjanaṃ nirmālyamapanīyātha śeṣamagnau yajeccaroḥ
ให้ทำพิธีปิดและส่งกลับ (วิสรรชนะ) ของการบูชานี้ และบูชาจัณฑิศะด้วย จากนั้นนำเนิร์มาลยะ (เศษดอกไม้ศักดิ์สิทธิ์) ออก แล้วถวายส่วนที่เหลือของจรุลงในไฟบูชา।
Lord Agni (teaching ritual procedure to Sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the Agni Purāṇa’s common dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Standard closure of pūjā: formal dismissal (visarjana), worship of Caṇḍeśa, removal of nirmālya, and offering remaining caru into fire to complete the rite without residue.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Pūjā-Visarjana, Caṇḍeśa-pūjana, Nirmālya-apaharaṇa, and Caru-āhuti","lookup_keywords":["pūjā-visarjana","caṇḍeśa-pūjana","nirmālya","caru","agni-yāga"],"quick_summary":"Conclude worship by performing visarjana, honoring Caṇḍeśa, removing sanctified floral remnants, and offering the remaining cooked oblation into the fire."}
Concept: A rite is complete only when properly concluded—dismissal, guardianship acknowledgment, and removal/consumption-offering of remnants prevent ritual ‘leakage’.
Application: Always perform formal closure steps; treat nirmālya as sacred and manage leftovers by fire-offering rather than casual disposal.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Deity Worship and Ritual Procedure)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A worshipper performs the concluding dismissal, offers flowers to Caṇḍeśa, removes nirmālya from the altar, and pours the remaining caru into the homa fire.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: shrine interior with lamp-lit altar, Caṇḍeśa depicted as a guardian figure to the side, priest lifting garlands (nirmālya) away, homa fire receiving caru, bold outlines and earthy reds.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: richly ornamented altar with gold leaf, Caṇḍeśa as a small framed deity icon, priest holding a vessel of caru over stylized flames, floral remnants shown being respectfully gathered, ornate border.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: step-by-step instructional layout—(1) visarjana mudrā, (2) Caṇḍeśa pūjā, (3) nirmālya removal, (4) caru āhuti—fine linework, calm palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: detailed ritual chamber, attendants holding flower trays, priest offering cooked oblation into fire, Caṇḍeśa represented as a small niche icon, delicate textiles and architecture."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पूजाविसर्जनञ्च = पूजा-विसर्जनम् + च; चण्डेशस्य = चण्ड-ईशस्य; निर्माल्यमपनीयाथ = निर्माल्यम् + अपनीय + अथ; शेषमग्नौ = शेषम् + अग्नौ; यजेच्चरोः = यजेत् + चरोः (त् + च → च्च)
Related Themes: Agni Purana Puja-vidhi sequences on visarjana and bali (83.48–83.49)
FAQs
It prescribes the correct closure of worship: perform pūjā-visarjana (ritual dismissal), include Caṇḍeśa-pūjana, remove the nirmālya, and offer the remaining caru into the sacred fire as a concluding homa act.
It preserves precise end-stage liturgical details—dismissal, subsidiary-deity worship, handling of consecrated remnants, and disposal of offerings via homa—showing the text’s coverage of practical temple and domestic ritual mechanics, not merely theology.
Proper visarjana and offering of residual oblations prevent ritual incompleteness (doṣa) and redirect remaining sanctified substance into Agni, reinforcing purification, orderly closure, and the merit (puṇya) of correctly finished worship.