Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 9
Worship of Gaurī and Others (Gauryādi-pūjā) — Mantra, Maṇḍala, Mudrā, Homa, and Mṛtyuñjaya Kalaśa-Rite
ललिता सुभगा गौरी क्षोभणी चाग्नितः क्रमात् पञ्चमी इति ञ वामा ज्येष्ठा क्रिया ज्ञाना वृत्ते पूर्वादितो यजेत्
lalitā subhagā gaurī kṣobhaṇī cāgnitaḥ kramāt pañcamī iti ña vāmā jyeṣṭhā kriyā jñānā vṛtte pūrvādito yajet
آگنی سمت سے ترتیب وار للیتا، سُبھگا، گوری اور کْشوبھنی کی پوجا کرے؛ پانچویں کو ‘ञ’ کہا گیا ہے۔ دائرہ وار ترتیب میں مشرق سے آغاز کرکے واما، جَیَشٹھا، کریا اور گیانا کی پوجا کرے۔
Lord Agni (narrating Agni Purana’s ritual/tantric procedure to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Avaraṇa-arcana: directional and circular (vṛtta) sequencing of Devī-nāmas/śaktis for worship, establishing a protective and empowered ritual field.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Devī-nāma-krama: Agni-diśā sequence & vṛtta-pūjā from East","lookup_keywords":["Lalitā","Subhagā","Kṣobhaṇī","Vāmā-Jyeṣṭhā","āvaraṇa-arcana"],"quick_summary":"The verse gives two ordered worship sequences: one starting from the Agni direction with Lalitā etc., and another circular worship beginning from the East with Vāmā, Jyeṣṭhā, Kriyā, and Jñānā."}
Concept: Nāma and krama (ordered sequence) as a technology of śakti—correct directionality and rotation activate the āvaraṇa.
Application: In āvaraṇa-arcana, keep a fixed starting point (Agni or East) and proceed consistently to avoid krama-bhraṃśa (sequence error).
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Tantra: Devī-nāma-mantra and Avaraṇa-arcana (name-sequence worship)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: śānta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A circular ritual diagram with deities’ names placed by direction: Lalitā, Subhagā, Gaurī, Kṣobhaṇī from the Agni quarter; and a second ring beginning East with Vāmā, Jyeṣṭhā, Kriyā, Jñānā.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, top-down mandala with directional quarters, stylized flames marking Agni corner, Devī-nāmas inscribed in traditional script-like bands, priests performing arcana around the circle.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, ornate circular yantra-like frame with gold foil, small medallions for Lalitā/Subhagā/Gaurī/Kṣobhaṇī and Vāmā/Jyeṣṭhā/Kriyā/Jñānā, lamps and flowers around.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean instructional mandala showing East start arrow and Agni-direction marker, labeled deity-name nodes, soft pastel palette and precise geometry.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholars and priests around a painted circular diagram on cloth, compass-like directional markers, delicate calligraphy panels naming the śaktis."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चाग्नितः = च + अग्नितः (अ + अ → आ). पूर्वादितः treated as avyayībhāva adverb ‘from the east onwards’.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 325 (Devī-nāma, nyāsa, āvaraṇa procedures)
FAQs
It gives a precise worship-sequence (krama) for Devī-names and a circular/directional (vṛtta, pūrvādi) arrangement, including a varṇa-bīja (“ña”) as the fifth element—typical of nyāsa/āvaraṇa-style ritual mapping.
Beyond mythology, the Agni Purana preserves procedural liturgy: name-lists, seed-syllables, and directional maṇḍala logic used in temple and tantric worship—showing it functions as a practical ritual handbook as well as a Purāṇa.
Performing worship in the prescribed order is held to align the practitioner with Devī’s śakti in a structured maṇḍala, supporting purification, concentration, and correct ritual efficacy (mantra-siddhi) through disciplined observance of krama.