80 - Mode of investiture with the fibres of Damanaka

The Lord said:

1. Ishall describe the mode of investiture with damanaka fibres for the lord. It has to be performed as before. Once, the celestials were harassed by Bhairava, a form born of the anger of lord Hara (Śiva).

2-5. Hence, he was cursed by the foe of Tripura (Shiva) (saying), “Become a stum". Being pleased (after propitiation) the lord said, “Whoever propitiates you would get full benefits and not otherwise.” The votaryshould address the tree by the (following) words of Bhava (Śiva) after having worshipped it with the vedic hymns on the seventh or thirteenth day (of a fortnight). "O (tree) born of the grace of (lord) Hara (Shiva)! You be present here. For the sake of work ofshiva, you have to be carried (home) as per the mandate of lordshiva." (The tree)should be invited home and the consecrationshould be done in the evening.

6. Having worshipped the sun-god, Sankara (Śiva) and Agni as prescribed, the root (of the tree)should be placed on the west of the lord alongwith the (clump of) earth.

7. The stump (may be placed) on the left or on the head (of the image), the dhatri (myrabolan) on the north, the broken leaves on the south and its flower on the east.

8. The fruits and rootsshould be placed in a cup. Lord Śivashould be worshipped in the north-east. The lordshould be invoked after having placed the five articles of worship in the folded palms and (later) placing them on one's head.

9. “O lord of celestials! You have been invoked by me in the early morning! O lord! the merit of this penance has to become fully fruitful by your mandate.”

10. After having kept the sacred remnants in the vessel covered, (the votary)should worship the lord of the universe with flowers etc., after having bathed early in the morning.

11-12. After having performed the nitya and naimittika rites, heshould then worship with the damana. After having kept the remnants in the folded palms, lordshiva, Agni and the preceptorshould be worshipped with (the mantras) of the lord of the principle of knowledge of soul, the principal mantras of the lord ending with (the names of) Ishvara, with four handfuls (of offering). “Om haum (obeisance) to the lord of sacrifice. Complete the sacrifice. Obeisance to the holder of the spear.”

13. “O lord! Whatever has been in excess or inshort in my acts let all that be complete by this investiture of the damanaka by me". (Whoever performs this) would go to heaven after having obtained the benefits of all that is got in the month of Chaitra (April-May).

Summary of chapter 80 of the Agni Purāṇa is as follows:

The eightieth chapter describes the ritual offering of the damanaka plant (Artemisia indica) to Bhagavān Śiva as a special seasonal worship associated with the spring festival of Caitrī. The damanaka plant — with its strongly aromatic leaves — is presented as a particularly beloved offering to Śiva, equivalent in merit to the offering of a thousand bilva leaves. The specific mantras with which the damanaka garland is to be woven and offered, the appropriate time of year (the Caitrī new moon in the spring), and the duration of the offering are specified. The merit of performing damanakāropaṇa — including the removal of past sins, granting of longevity, and the fulfillment of desires — is affirmed. The chapter is brief but establishes the principle that even simple offerings of fragrant plants, when properly consecrated, carry the same weight as elaborate ritual acts.