Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 43
Chapter 33 — पवित्रारोहणविधानं
The Procedure for Pavitrārohaṇa / Installing the Sacred Thread or Consecratory Amulet
पूर्वदक्षाप्यसौम्येषु मूर्त्यावरणमर्चयेत् वासुदेवः सङ्कर्षणः प्रद्युम्नश्चानिरुद्धकः
pūrvadakṣāpyasaumyeṣu mūrtyāvaraṇamarcayet vāsudevaḥ saṅkarṣaṇaḥ pradyumnaścāniruddhakaḥ
في الجهات الشرقية والجنوبية والشمالية ينبغي عبادة الحاشية المحيطة بصور الإله: فاسوديفا (Vāsudeva)، سانكارشانا (Saṅkarṣaṇa)، براديومنَ (Pradyumna)، وأنيرودها (Aniruddha).
Lord Agni (in dialogue with the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Directional worship (dik-pūjā) of Viṣṇu’s vyūhas as an āvaraṇa (retinue) around the main deity in a pūjā-maṇḍala.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Caturvyūha Āvaraṇa: Vāsudeva–Saṅkarṣaṇa–Pradyumna–Aniruddha","lookup_keywords":["vyuha","vasudeva","sankarshana","pradyumna","aniruddha"],"quick_summary":"The verse lists the four vyūhas to be worshipped as surrounding forms, placed by direction as part of a structured Vaiṣṇava āvaraṇa-pūjā."}
Concept: The One Hari is approached through ordered emanational forms (vyūhas) that structure worship and theology.
Application: Design a pūjā-maṇḍala or temple parivāra scheme using the caturvyūha as the principal surrounding deities.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Vaishnava iconography and worship of the Vyūhas)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A central Viṣṇu icon with four surrounding forms placed by direction, each on a lotus pedestal, forming a symmetrical āvaraṇa around the sanctum or altar diagram.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: mandala-like shrine composition with central Hari and four vyūhas around, flat iconic symmetry, rich earthy palette, directional markers subtly indicated.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: central Viṣṇu with gold halo, four vyūhas in corner/side panels with heavy gold work, lotus pedestals, ornate arch framing the ensemble.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clean diagrammatic yet devotional layout—central icon with four directional attendants, soft washes, fine ornament lines, emphasis on placement clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: courtly shrine scene with a painted mandala floor, four attendant deities around the central Viṣṇu, delicate architectural perspective and textile detail."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Shree","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पूर्वदक्षाप्यसौम्येषु is a compressed sandhi/compound-like sequence: पूर्व + दक्ष + अपि + असौम्येषु; मूर्त्यावरणम् = मूर्ति + आवरणम्; प्रद्युम्नश्च = प्रद्युम्नः + च.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Vaiṣṇava pūjā-vidhi and āvaraṇa-pūjā passages; Agni Purana: iconography lists for Hari and parivāra-devatās
FAQs
It teaches āvaraṇa-arcana: worship of the deity’s surrounding retinue by placing and honoring the four Viṣṇu Vyūhas (Vāsudeva, Saṅkarṣaṇa, Pradyumna, Aniruddha) in specified directions.
It preserves a practical temple-ritual protocol drawn from Vaiṣṇava/Pāñcarātra systems—showing that the Agni Purana functions as a handbook that includes liturgy, icon placement, and direction-based worship procedures.
Directionally ordered worship of the Vyūhas is presented as a complete (paripūrṇa) form of devotion that harmonizes the shrine’s sacred space, supporting purification and merit through correctly performed arcana.