Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 15
Chapter 306 — त्रैलोक्यमोहनमन्त्राः
Mantras for Enchanting the Three Worlds
विष्णुं नानाविधानेकपरिवारपरिच्छदम् लोकानुग्रहणं सौम्यं सहस्रादित्यतेजसं
viṣṇuṃ nānāvidhānekaparivāraparicchadam lokānugrahaṇaṃ saumyaṃ sahasrādityatejasaṃ
বিষ্ণুৰ ধ্যান কৰা—নানাবিধ পৰিয়াল আৰু পৰিচৰ-পরিচ্ছদে সুসজ্জিত, লোকসমূহক অনুগ্ৰহ দানকাৰী, সৌম্যৰূপ, আৰু সহস্ৰ সূৰ্যৰ ন্যায় তেজস্বী।
Lord Agni (in instruction to Sage Vasiṣṭha, in the standard Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Stotra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Dhyāna for Viṣṇu-upāsanā: visualization of form, retinue, and cosmic beneficence to stabilize mind before japa/arcana.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Viṣṇu-dhyāna: gentle benefactor radiant as a thousand suns","lookup_keywords":["Viṣṇu-dhyāna","sahasrāditya-tejas","lokānugraha","saumya","parivāra"],"quick_summary":"Meditate on Viṣṇu as compassionate to all worlds, gentle yet immensely radiant, attended by diverse retinues—an aid for devotion and concentration."}
Alamkara Type: Atiśayokti (hyperbole) in 'splendor of a thousand suns'
Concept: Dhyāna as upāya: fixing the mind on Viṣṇu’s auspicious qualities (saumya, lokānugraha) and tejas to cultivate bhakti and ekāgratā.
Application: Use as a pre-japa visualization: mentally place Viṣṇu before you, expand awareness to his cosmic protection, then begin mantra repetition.
Khanda Section: Vishnu-bhakti and Dhyana (Stotra/Dhyana-Lakshana within Purana-narrative)
Primary Rasa: Adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: Shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Viṣṇu seated or standing with a vast luminous aura like many suns, surrounded by varied attendants (parivāra), expression gentle and compassionate, blessing the worlds.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Viṣṇu with large halo radiating concentric solar discs, calm saumya face, attendants arranged symmetrically, lotus and cloud motifs, rich reds and greens, temple-mural flat perspective.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Viṣṇu with massive gold-leaf prabhāmaṇḍala suggesting thousand-sun radiance, ornate crown and jewelry, attendants in smaller scale, blessing gesture, deep jewel-toned background.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, refined shading on Viṣṇu’s face to convey gentleness, luminous aura rendered with soft gradients, orderly retinue, instructional clarity of iconographic elements.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, celestial court with Viṣṇu at center, delicate gold wash for radiance, attendants in detailed garments, subtle landscape of worlds below receiving grace."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: Sandhi resolved: nānāvidhāneka- → nānā-vidha-aneka-; lokānugrahaṇaṃ (compound); sahasrāditya- → sahasra-āditya-.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 306 (dhyāna and pūjā-vidhi sequence)
FAQs
It teaches a dhyāna-lakṣaṇa (meditative specification): visualizing Vishnu as gentle yet immensely radiant, surrounded by a divine retinue—used as a practical focus for japa, pūjā, and contemplation.
Beyond law, polity, medicine, and arts, the Agni Purana also preserves precise devotional technologies—here, a standardized meditation formula (iconic attributes + affect + cosmic function) that can be applied in ritual and daily practice.
Dhyāna on Vishnu as the world-granting benefactor (lokānugrahaṇa) is traditionally held to purify the mind, strengthen sattva, and generate puṇya through sustained remembrance and devotion.