The Agni Purana

by N. Gangadharan | 1954 | 360,691 words | ISBN-10: 8120803590 | ISBN-13: 9788120803596

This page describes Worship of gods to ward off the effects of portents (devapuja) which is chapter 264 of the English translation of the Agni Purana, one of the eighteen major puranas dealing with all topics concerning ancient Indian culture, tradition and sciences. Containing roughly 15,000 Sanskrit metrical verses, subjects contained in the Agni-Purana include cosmology, philosophy, architecture, iconography, economics, diplomacy, pilgrimage guides, ancient geography, gemology, ayurveda, etc.

Chapter 264 - Worship of gods to ward off the effects of portents (devapūjā)

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[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

[Full title: Worship of gods to ward off the effects of portents (devapūjā) and mode of offering the Vaiśvadeva ball (vaiśvadevabali)]

Puṣkara said:

1. I shall describe the mode of worshipping the gods and other rites that destroy (the effects of) portents. One should offer respectful water of libation to (Lord) Viṣṇu with the three (hymns beginning with) āpo hi ṣṭhā^[1] after having bathed.

2. O Brahmin! Water for washing the feet (should be offered) with the three (hymns beginning with) hiraṇyavarṇa^[2]. Water for sipping (is offered with the recitation of the hymn) śanna āpo^[3] and for bathing with (the hymn) idamāpaḥ.^[4]

3. Perfumes (are offered) with the three (hymns) rathe akṣe^[5] and dress with (the hymn) yuva^[6]. Flowers (are given) with (the recitation of the hymn) puṣpavatīḥ^[7] and incense with (the hymn) dhūpo'si.^[8]

4-6. (The hymn for offering) the lamp is tejo’si^[9] and for the madhuparka^[10], dadhi^[11]. O Foremost among men! The eight hymns (beginning) with hiraṇyagarbhaḥ^[12] are said to be (used) in offering eatables (to gods), cooked rice, drinks, perfume, chowrie, fan, shoe, umbrella, chariot and seat. Whatever other thing has to be offered should be accompanied by the recitation of (the hymn) of (god) Savitṛ. The puruṣasūkta^[13] should be repeated and oblations should be offered with the same (hymn).

7. In the absence of an image (of Lord Viṣṇu) (the deity should be invoked) on the altar or in water or in a pot full (with water) or on the banks of a river or in a lotus. One would thus accomplish the propitiation by worshipping (lord) Viṣṇu.

8-12. Then the oblations should be offered to the glowing fire with the entire food being collected and offered with earnestness after cleaning the ground, sprinkling water and spreading sand and kuśa grass. (One should say) (obeisance) to Vāsudeva, to the lord, to the master, to the immutable, to the Fire (god), to Soma^[14], to Mitra, to Varuṇa and to Indra. O Fortunate one Obeisance to Indra and Fire (god), the Viśvedevas^[15] and to the lord of the beings. Oh! Rāma! Then (one should say) (obeisance) to Anumati^[16], to Dhanvantari^[17], to Vāstoṣpati^[18], to the goddess, to the Fire that accomplishes the sacrificial rite. After having made the oblations (thus) with the names ending in the dative case, a part of the offering is given away as gift.

13-14. O Son of Bhṛgu! Knower of righteousness! Takṣa and Upatakṣa towards the east, then the horses and the hairs (on the south), Nirundhī and Dhūmriṇīkā (on the west) and Asvapantī and Meghapatnī (on the north) are the names of all those (to be worshipped) all around (in a circle).

15-16. The Fire-god and other gods should be located in (the places of) the goddesses. O Son of Bhṛgu! (goddesses) Nandinī, Subhāgyā, Sumaṅgalī, Bhadrakālī, Sthūṇā, Śrī, Hiraṇyakeśī and Vanaspati are worshipped.

17-22. Offering is made to Dharma and Adharma at the door, Dhruva at the centre of the house, Mṛtyu outside, Varuṇa at a reservoir, the goblins outside (the house), the god of wealth at the house, Indra and companions on the east, Yama and his attendants on the south, Varuṇa and his companions on the west and Soma and his attendants on the north. (Offering) is made to Brahmā and his attendants at the centre. (Offerings) should be made in the sky, above, on the floor and on the earth during the day (for the spirits) that wander during the day and in the night for those that wander during the night. Offering should be made (to the spirits) morning and evening daily outside. Then offering of balls of rice is made (for the manes). It should not be done in the evening.

23-28. Offering is first made to (the dead) father, then to the grandfather and great-gradfather, then to one’s mother, paternal grandmother and paternal great-grandmother. The manes should thus be worshipped on the kuśa (grass) having their tips facing the south. The offerings of balls of rice to the crows are made with the repetition of the sacred formula stating ‘let the crows partake in the directions of east, west, north-west, south and south-west’. (Similarly) the ball of rice to the dogs is offered (with the repetition of the sacred formula, ‘I am offering the ball of rice to the dogs in the family of Sun that are black and of variegated colours. May it protect me always on the path to the next world’). (Then offerings are made to the cows with the following words:) ‘Accept this oblation of mine, O cows, the daughters of the celestial cow, that are good for all, holy, destroyer of sins and the mothers of the three worlds’. After having offered the food to the cows and bidding adieu, one should offer the alms. After having worshipped the guests and the poor, the householder should himself eat. One should say, ‘Oṃ bhūḥ oblations. Oṃ bhuvaḥ oblations. Oṃ svaḥ oblations. Oṃ bhūrbhuvaḥ svaḥ oblations. Oṃ oblations, you are the atonement for sins done by the gods. Oṃ oblations, you are the atonement for sins done by the manes. Oṃ oblations, you are the atonement for sins done by me. Oṃ oblations, you are the atonement for sins done by men. Oblations, you are the atonement for all sins done by the learned men and the ignorant men. Oblations, to Fire god that accomplishes the desires. Oṃ oblations to Prajāpati (lord of beings). I have described to you (the mode of) worship of (Lord) Viṣṇu and the offering made to all gods.