Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 10
Chapter 40 — भूपरिग्रहो नाम
Bhū-parigraha) / अर्घ्यदानविधानम् (Arghya-dāna-vidhāna
नागपुष्पैः पदे नागं मुख्यं भक्ष्यैर् द्विसंस्थितं मुद्गौदनेन भल्लाटं पदे सोमं पदे तथा
nāgapuṣpaiḥ pade nāgaṃ mukhyaṃ bhakṣyair dvisaṃsthitaṃ mudgaudanena bhallāṭaṃ pade somaṃ pade tathā
ناگ پھولوں سے مقررہ سمت میں ناگ دیوتا کو قائم کرے۔ مرکزی مقام پر کھانے کی اصلی نذر کو دو حصوں میں رکھے۔ مُدگاؤدن (مونگ کے ساتھ پکا ہوا چاول) سے بھلّاط کو پیش کرے، اور اسی طرح دوسری سمت میں سوم کے لیے بھی نذر قائم کرے۔
Lord Agni (in discourse to the sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Bali/naivedya placement for Nāga, central dual-portion main offering, and specific deities (Bhallāṭa, Soma) using nāga-flowers and mudga-odana; supports correct quarter-wise ritual provisioning.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Bali placements: Nāga with nāga-puṣpa; main dual-portion naivedya; Bhallāṭa with mudga-odana; Soma by quarter","lookup_keywords":["nāga-puṣpa","nāga-bali","mudga-odana","bhallāṭa","soma-offering"],"quick_summary":"Place Nāga with nāga-flowers in the designated quarter; set the chief naivedya in the center as two portions; offer mudga-odana to Bhallāṭa and place Soma’s offering in its assigned quarter."}
Concept: Cosmic order mirrored in ritual space: deities/forces receive appropriate dravya and position, sustaining harmony and protection.
Application: Construct a consistent bali-maṇḍala: center and quarters with correct substances to secure protection (Nāga) and auspiciousness (Soma).
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Ritual offerings and bali/naivedya arrangements)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual mandala around a shrine: in one quarter a Nāga symbol with nāga-flowers; in the center a main platter of eatables divided into two portions; nearby a bowl of mudga-odana labeled for Bhallāṭa; another quarter marked for Soma’s offering.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, circular bali-maṇḍala around a small shrine, serpent emblem with nāga-flowers, central dual-portion naivedya, Soma indicated with moon motif, earthy palette and bold contours.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central naivedya plate with gold embossing split into two, nāga-flowers rendered with gold highlights near a stylized serpent, Soma with crescent halo, rich ornamental borders.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore instructional painting, top-down plan of offerings by quarters, clear labels for Nāga/Bhallāṭa/Soma, depiction of mudga-odana texture, clean and didactic.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined top-view of a ritual floor with trays placed in quarters, serpent motif with flowers, central divided platter, moon emblem for Soma, intricate carpet patterns."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: नागपुष्पैः = नाग + पुष्पैः; भक्ष्यैः + द्विसंस्थितम् → भक्ष्यैर् द्विसंस्थितम्; मुद्ग + औदनेन → मुद्गौदनेन.
Related Themes: Agni Purana ch. 40 bali/naivedya placement lists; Agni Purana puja-vidhi chapters on dikpāla/attendant offerings
FAQs
It prescribes a bali/naivedya layout by pada (ritual positions): nāga-flowers for the Nāga offering, a chief central placement of principal eatables in two portions, and specific food (mudga-odana) assigned to a named recipient (Bhallāṭa), with a separate placement for Soma.
It exemplifies the text’s procedural ritualism—mapping deities/spirits to spatial quarters and prescribing exact materials (flowers, specific cooked preparations). Such operational details function like a manual, alongside the Purāṇa’s coverage of many other disciplines.
Correctly assigning offerings to their proper deities and positions is treated as a means of ritual completeness (pūrṇatā), appeasement (śānti) of associated powers like Nāgas, and securing auspiciousness through orderly worship.