Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 13
Worship of Gaurī and Others (Gauryādi-pūjā) — Mantra, Maṇḍala, Mudrā, Homa, and Mṛtyuñjaya Kalaśa-Rite
वामेन पुस्तताम्बूलदण्डाभयकमण्डलुम् गणेशदर्पणेष्वासान्दद्यादेकैकशः क्रमात्
vāmena pustatāmbūladaṇḍābhayakamaṇḍalum gaṇeśadarpaṇeṣvāsāndadyādekaikaśaḥ kramāt
بائیں ہاتھ سے ترتیب وار ایک ایک کر کے گنیش کی مورتی میں کتاب، تامبول، عصا، اَبھَے مُدرَا اور کمندلو؛ نیز آئینہ اور کمان کا نیاس کرے۔
Lord Agni (teaching the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s instructional dialogue)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","practical_application":"Assigning specific āyudha/upa-cāra attributes to Gaṇeśa during pratimā-pratiṣṭhā and pūjā so the icon is ritually ‘completed’ and worship is standardized.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Gaṇeśa-hasta-vinyāsa (assignment of book, tāmbūla, daṇḍa, abhaya, kamaṇḍalu, darpaṇa, īṣvāsa)","lookup_keywords":["Gaṇeśa","hasta-vinyāsa","āyudha","darpaaṇa","īṣvāsa"],"quick_summary":"The verse gives an ordered placement of implements/gestures for Gaṇeśa’s icon, ensuring correct iconographic completeness and ritual consistency in installation and worship."}
Weapon Type: Bow (īṣvāsa)
Concept: Ritual efficacy depends on correct form (rūpa) and correct assignment (vinyāsa) of divine attributes.
Application: Use a fixed checklist during pratimā-nyāsa/pratiṣṭhā so no attribute is omitted or misplaced.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Iconography and ritual installation of deities)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A priest performs iconographic assignment to a seated Gaṇeśa image, indicating each implement—book, betel, staff, abhaya gesture, water-pot, mirror, and bow—in a clear ritual sequence.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, warm earthy palette, seated Gaṇeśa with multiple arms, priest in white mundu performing hasta-vinyāsa, labeled implements (pustaka, tāmbūla, daṇḍa, kamaṇḍalu, darpaṇa, īṣvāsa), sanctum ambience, flat decorative detailing.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Gaṇeśa richly ornamented with gold foil highlights, prominent abhaya-mudrā, book and kamaṇḍalu visible, mirror and bow placed as attributes, temple arch frame, deep reds and greens, jeweled halo.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean linework and instructional clarity, Gaṇeśa icon with each attribute clearly separated, priest pointing in sequence, minimal background, soft shading.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, fine detailing, a ritual chamber with attendants, Gaṇeśa icon on a pedestal, implements arranged and being assigned one-by-one, delicate textiles and architectural borders, subdued palette with precise outlines."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पुस्तताम्बूलदण्डाभयकमण्डलुम् इति समुच्चयः—पदानि पृथक्: पुस्त + ताम्बूल + दण्ड + अभय + कमण्डलुम्। गणेशदर्पणेषु = गणेश + दर्पणेषु। दद्यादेकैकशः = दद्याद् + एकैकशः।
Related Themes: Agni Purana 325 (pūjā-vidhi, mudrā/maṇḍala, pratiṣṭhā context)
FAQs
It teaches pratima-lakṣaṇa and pūjā-vidhi: the correct, sequential placement/assignment of Gaṇeśa’s identifying implements (book, tāmbūla, staff, abhaya-mudrā, kamaṇḍalu, mirror, bow) as part of iconographic setup and worship.
Beyond myth, the Agni Purāṇa functions as a manual for applied religion—covering temple craft, iconography, and liturgy. This verse is a technical micro-instruction on deity-attribute assignment, exemplifying its practical, procedural coverage of ritual arts.
Correctly honoring Gaṇeśa with proper attributes and order is treated as ritual correctness (vidhi), supporting obstacle-removal, auspicious beginnings, and the accrual of merit through disciplined, tradition-aligned worship.