Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 6
Chapter 31 — मार्जनविधानं
The Procedure of Mārjana / Purificatory Sprinkling
वराह नरसिंहेश वामनेश त्रिविक्रम हरग्रीवेश सर्वेश हृषीकेश हराशुभम्
varāha narasiṃheśa vāmaneśa trivikrama haragrīveśa sarveśa hṛṣīkeśa harāśubham
يا ربّ في هيئتي فاراها وناراسيمها؛ يا ربّ فامانا، يا تريفكراما؛ يا ربّ هاياگريفا؛ يا ربّ الكلّ؛ يا هريشيكيشا—أزِلْ الشؤم وامحُ النحس.
Lord Agni (teaching a stotra/mantra section to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Stotra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Nama-japa and stotra-recitation to remove inauspiciousness (harashubha) by invoking multiple Vishnu-avatara epithets.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Avatara-nama invocation for removal of inauspiciousness","lookup_keywords":["varaha","narasimha","vamana","hayagriva","hrishikesha"],"quick_summary":"A compact name-string of Vishnu’s avatara-forms used as a protective stotra: recite to dispel ashuba and stabilize auspicious conditions."}
Alamkara Type: Anuprasa (repeated -esha vocatives)
Concept: Remembrance of the Lord’s forms (avatara-smriti) functions as raksha and inner purification; ashuba is countered by sattvic alignment.
Application: Use as a short stotra before travel, ritual, study, or during fear/inauspicious omens; repeat as japa with focused bhava.
Khanda Section: Avataras & Vishnu-sahasranama-style Stotra (Vaishnava Naman/Mantra)
Primary Rasa: Veera
Secondary Rasa: Shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A vertical garland of Vishnu’s avatara-forms appearing as radiant icons while a devotee chants; the final gesture is the dispersal of dark inauspicious clouds.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stacked divine vignettes: Varaha rescuing earth, Narasimha roaring, Vamana with umbrella, Trivikrama striding, Hayagriva holding scriptures, Hrishikesha serene; dark ashuba clouds dissolving; bold outlines, saturated greens/reds","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central Hrishikesha with gold halo, surrounding medallions of Varaha/Narasimha/Vamana/Trivikrama/Hayagriva; heavy gold embossing, jewel tones, auspicious lotus motifs, ‘harashubham’ visualized as broken black veil","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, neat icon-panels with captions, devotee seated in japa posture; soft pastel palette, refined ornament, emphasis on clarity of each avatara attribute","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, devotee in a garden pavilion chanting; above, cloud roundels show each avatara; fine brushwork, delicate gold, ashuba shown as fleeing shadow figures"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सम्बोधन-श्रृङ्खला; ‘हराशुभम्’ = हर (लोट्) + अशुभम् (कर्म).
Related Themes: Agni Purana avatara-katha and stotra sections (general); Agni Purana Vishnu-nama/kavacha passages (general)
FAQs
It functions as a protective nāma-mantra: invoking specific avatāra-names of Viṣṇu to neutralize aśubha (inauspicious forces) and secure auspiciousness in worship and daily recitation.
Alongside subjects like polity, medicine, and arts, the Agni Purana preserves practical liturgical material—name-lists and stotras used for protection, purification, and devotion—showing its breadth as a ritual and knowledge compendium.
Recitation with devotion is presented as a means to remove aśubha—sin, obstacles, and misfortune—by taking refuge in Viṣṇu’s avatāra-forms and the Lordship implied by titles like Sarveśa and Hṛṣīkeśa.