Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 1
Worship of Gaurī and Others (Gauryādi-pūjā) — Mantra, Maṇḍala, Mudrā, Homa, and Mṛtyuñjaya Kalaśa-Rite
इत्य् आग्नेये महापुराणे अंशकादिर्नाम चतुर्विंशत्यधिकत्रिशततमो ऽध्यायः कर्षकादिकमिति ख , छ च अथ पञ्चविंशत्यधिकत्रिशततमो ऽध्यायः गौर्यादिपूजा ईश्वर उवाच सौभाग्यादेरुमापूजां वक्ष्ये ऽहं भुक्तिमुक्तिदां मन्त्रध्यानं मण्डलञ्च मुद्रां होमादिसाधनम्
ity āgneye mahāpurāṇe aṃśakādirnāma caturviṃśatyadhikatriśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ karṣakādikamiti kha , cha ca atha pañcaviṃśatyadhikatriśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ gauryādipūjā īśvara uvāca saubhāgyāderumāpūjāṃ vakṣye 'haṃ bhuktimuktidāṃ mantradhyānaṃ maṇḍalañca mudrāṃ homādisādhanam
এইদৰে আগ্নেয় মহাপুৰাণত ‘অংশকাদি’ নামৰ ৩২৪তম অধ্যায় সমাপ্ত (খ-ছ পাঠত ‘কৰ্শকাদি’)। এতিয়া ৩২৫তম অধ্যায় ‘গৌৰ্যাদি পূজা’ আৰম্ভ। ঈশ্বৰে ক’লে—সৌভাগ্যাদি পৰা আৰম্ভ কৰি উমা-পূজা মই ক’ম; ই ভোগ আৰু মোক্ষ দুয়ো দান কৰে; লগতে মন্ত্ৰধ্যান, মণ্ডল, মুদ্ৰা আৰু হোমাদি সাধনো।
Īśvara (Lord Śiva) speaking
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Establishes the procedural scope of Umā/Gaurī worship—mantra-dhyāna, maṇḍala, mudrā, homa—aimed at both bhukti (prosperity) and mukti (liberation).","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Gaurī-Pūjā Prastāva: Bhukti-Mukti Sādhana with Mantra–Maṇḍala–Mudrā–Homa","lookup_keywords":["gौर्यादिपूजा","umā-pūjā","bhukti-mukti","mudrā","homa"],"quick_summary":"Introduces a full ritual manual for Umā/Gaurī worship, explicitly integrating meditation on mantra, construction of maṇḍala, performance of mudrā, and homa as the means to attain both worldly success and liberation."}
Concept: Integrated upāsanā yields both artha/kāma (bhukti) and mokṣa (mukti) when performed with complete aṅgas (dhyāna, maṇḍala, mudrā, homa).
Application: Treat worship as a complete system: visualization + diagram + gesture + offering-fire; do not isolate mantra from embodied and spatial ritual supports.
Khanda Section: Pūjā-vidhi / Śaiva-Śākta ritual manuals (Umā-Gaurī worship, mantra–maṇḍala–mudrā–homa)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A chapter-opening scene: Īśvara teaching a ritual manual; in front, a prepared altar with a Gaurī maṇḍala, mudrā demonstration, and a homa fire-pit with offerings arranged.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Śiva as teacher seated with palm-leaf manuscript, devotee before a floor maṇḍala of Gaurī, homa-kuṇḍa with flames, ritual vessels, traditional mural palette and bold outlines.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Gaurī enthroned as central icon with gold work, side vignette of priest performing homa, ornate arch, rich textiles, mantra manuscript and maṇḍala visible, luminous devotional atmosphere.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional tableau: teacher-Śiva pointing to labeled steps—mantra-dhyāna, maṇḍala, mudrā, homa—clean composition, fine detailing of implements and altar layout.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, a sage’s assembly where a divine teacher dictates a ritual chapter; assistants draw a maṇḍala on paper, a small homa fire burns in a brazier, delicate borders and calligraphy."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: इत्य् = इति (before vowel); अंशकादिर्नाम = अंशकादिः + नाम; त्रिशततमो ऽध्यायः = त्रिशततमः + अध्यायः; कर্ষकादिकमिति = कर्षकादिकम् + इति; मण्डलञ्च = मण्डलम् + च; वक्ष्ये ऽहं = वक्ष्ये + अहम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 325 (Gaurī/Umā pūjā details to follow: mantra, dhyāna, maṇḍala, mudrā, homa); Agni Purana 324 (preceding tantra-mantra operational rites)
FAQs
It introduces a Śaiva–Śākta pūjā-vidhi framework: Umā/Gaurī worship defined as a sādhanā using mantra-dhyāna (mantric visualization), maṇḍala construction, mudrā (ritual seals), and homa and allied rites as practical instruments of accomplishment.
By shifting from a prior chapter heading into a new, clearly titled ritual-technology chapter, it demonstrates the Agni Purāṇa’s compendium style—cataloguing manuscript variants, then outlining an actionable liturgical toolkit (mantra, diagram, gesture, fire-offering) rather than only mythic narration.
The verse frames Umā-pūjā as yielding both bhukti (prosperity/enjoyment) and mukti (liberation), indicating a dual aim: immediate auspicious results (saubhāgya) alongside purification and ultimate release through disciplined ritual practice.