Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 9
Chapter 23 — पूजाविधिकथनम्
The Account of the Rules of Worship
वामे तु वर्धनीं न्यस्य पूजाद्रव्यं तु दक्षिणे प्रक्षाल्यास्त्रेण चार्घ्येण गन्धपुष्पान्विते न्यसेत्
vāme tu vardhanīṃ nyasya pūjādravyaṃ tu dakṣiṇe prakṣālyāstreṇa cārghyeṇa gandhapuṣpānvite nyaset
Đặt bình rảy nước (vardhanī) ở bên trái và các vật phẩm cúng dường ở bên phải; hành giả nên tịnh hóa chúng bằng thần chú-vũ khí (astra-mantra), rồi đặt lễ arghya kèm hương thơm và hoa.
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Ritual layout (left/right placement) and prokṣaṇa-śodhana of upacāras using astra-mantra; preparing arghya with gandha and puṣpa.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Upacāra-vinyāsa: Vardhanī on the Left, Pūjā-dravya on the Right; Arghya Śodhana with Astra","lookup_keywords":["vardhanī","arghya","upacāra","astra-mantra","prokṣaṇa"],"quick_summary":"Arrange vessels correctly (sprinkling vessel left, materials right), purify them with astra-mantra sprinkling, then place arghya prepared with fragrance and flowers as a formal offering base."}
Concept: Outer order mirrors inner order: correct vinyāsa and śodhana make offerings fit for the deity and the mind fit for worship.
Application: Standardize altar ergonomics (left/right placement) to avoid mistakes; always prokṣaṇa before presenting arghya/upacāras.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Arghya and Upachara Placement in Ritual Worship)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A pūjā altar with a sprinkling vessel placed to the left, offerings arranged to the right; the priest sprinkles water while reciting astra-mantra; an arghya bowl with sandal paste fragrance and flowers is set down.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, clear left-right arrangement of vessels, priest sprinkling with darbha or spoon, arghya bowl with flowers, lamp-lit shrine ambience, traditional ornamental border.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-highlighted vessels and lamp, arghya bowl brimming with flowers, priest mid-sprinkle, rich textiles and temple arch framing.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, neat diagrammatic altar layout emphasizing left vardhanī and right pūjā-dravya, delicate shading, instructional clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed metalwork vessels, floral arghya, precise hand sprinkling gesture, patterned carpet and low altar table."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shree","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: prakṣālya+astreṇa→prakṣālyāstreṇa; ca+arghyeṇa→cārghyeṇa; gandha+puṣpa+anvite→gandhapuṣpānvite
Related Themes: Agni Purana 23 (arghya, upacāra, prokṣaṇa instructions nearby)
FAQs
It teaches puja-dravya-vinyāsa (ritual arrangement): keep the vardhanī (sprinkling vessel) to the left, worship articles to the right, purify them using the astra-mantra, and place arghya prepared with fragrance and flowers.
By preserving precise, procedural details of worship—object placement, mantra-based purification, and preparation of offerings—this chapter functions like a practical ritual manual embedded within a Purana’s broader coverage of many disciplines.
Correct placement and mantra-purification are treated as safeguards of ritual purity (śauca) and reverence (satkāra), ensuring the offering (arghya) is spiritually fit and the worship yields merit without impurity-based obstacles.