Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 23
Nīrājana-vidhiḥ
Procedure of Nīrājana / Auspicious Lamp-Waving and Royal Propitiation
विक्रमेयुस्ततः सर्वे राजलिङ्गं गृहे यजेत् शेखरादीति क वारुणे वरुणं प्रार्च्य रात्रौ भूतबलिं ददेत्
vikrameyustataḥ sarve rājaliṅgaṃ gṛhe yajet śekharādīti ka vāruṇe varuṇaṃ prārcya rātrau bhūtabaliṃ dadet
随后众人继续前行；应在自宅礼拜王家林伽（rāja-liṅga）。于瓦鲁那仪轨（Vāruṇa）中，如法敬拜伐楼那（Varuṇa）之后，夜间应献“部多供”（bhūta-bali），以食物供养诸众生/灵类。
Lord Agni (narrating Agni Purana’s ritual instructions)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Household/royal ritual sequence: worship of a royal liṅga at home, performance of a Vāruṇa rite to Varuṇa, and nocturnal bhūta-bali to harmonize unseen forces and avert obstacles.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Gṛha-rāja-liṅga-pūjā, Vāruṇa-vidhi, rātri-bhūta-bali","lookup_keywords":["rāja-liṅga","gṛha-pūjā","Vāruṇa-vidhi","Varuṇa","bhūta-bali"],"quick_summary":"Proceed to worship the royal liṅga in the house; in the Varuṇa rite worship Varuṇa; at night offer bhūta-bali to pacify beings and secure protection."}
Concept: Ritual completeness includes both deva-pūjā (liṅga/Varuṇa) and bhūta-tarpaṇa (offerings to beings), integrating visible and invisible order.
Application: Combine deity worship with protective bali at appropriate time (night) to reduce obstacles, fear, and inauspicious disturbances.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Griha-linga worship and ancillary bali rites)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Inside a royal household shrine, attendants worship a decorated liṅga; separately, a Varuṇa altar with water vessels; at night, offerings are placed at thresholds/courtyard corners as bhūta-bali under lamplight.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, interior shrine with liṅga adorned with bilva and garlands, Varuṇa motif with aquatic symbols, night scene with oil lamps and bali offerings at courtyard edges, protective ambience","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold on liṅga pedestal and ritual vessels, Varuṇa represented with pāśa and water-pot, night bhūta-bali with lamp glow, rich ornamentation","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean instructional panels: (1) liṅga-pūjā in gṛha, (2) Vāruṇa rite with water pots, (3) night bhūta-bali placement, subtle shading","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, palace interior shrine scene with liṅga worship, separate courtyard night offering with lamps, attendants placing food offerings, detailed architecture and textiles"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Malkauns","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: विक्रमेयुस्ततः = विक्रमेयुः + ततः; शेखरादीति = शेखरादि + इति; प्रार्च्य = प्र + आर्च्य (pra-√arc, ktvā); ‘क’ पदः पाठसन्दिग्धः (manuscript/edition issue).
Related Themes: Agni Purana: liṅga-pūjā and bali-vidhi sections; dikpāla/Varuṇa worship; bhūta-yajña/bali procedures
FAQs
It prescribes a sequence within household worship: perform gṛha-based rāja-liṅga worship, then in a Vāruṇa (Varuṇa-focused) observance, worship Varuṇa and conclude with a night-time bhūta-bali offering for appeasement/protection.
It shows the text’s practical ritual breadth by combining Śaiva domestic liṅga-pūjā with a distinct Vāruṇa rite and the protective bhūta-bali practice—illustrating how the Purana compiles multi-deity, multi-rite procedural religion.
Worship of the Liṅga and Varuṇa is presented as order-restoring devotion, while bhūta-bali functions as a pacifying, protective act—aimed at averting disturbances and maintaining ritual harmony within the household.