Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 57
Ṛग्विधानम् (Ṛgvidhāna) — Applications of Ṛgvedic Mantras through Japa and Homa
आगार इति सूक्तेन गोष्ठे गां लोकमातरं उपतिष्ठेद्व्रजेच्चैव यदिच्छेत्ताः सदाक्षयाः
āgāra iti sūktena goṣṭhe gāṃ lokamātaraṃ upatiṣṭhedvrajeccaiva yadicchettāḥ sadākṣayāḥ
“আগার…” সূক্ত দ্বারা গোশালায় ‘লোকমাতা’ গাভীর উপাসনা করবে এবং গো-খোঁয়াড়েও যাবে। যা কামনা করে, সেই বরসমূহ সদা অক্ষয় হয়।
Lord Agni (in discourse to the sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the usual Agni Purāṇa frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Stotra","practical_application":"Go-sevā and prosperity-oriented worship using a specific sūkta in the cowshed/cattle-pen to secure enduring boons.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Goṣṭha-upasthāna with “Āgāra…” Sūkta for Akṣaya-phala","lookup_keywords":["Āgāra sūkta","goṣṭha","lokamātā gauḥ","upasthāna","akṣaya-phala"],"quick_summary":"Worship the cow as ‘Mother of the world’ in the cowshed with the “Āgāra…” hymn and visit the cattle-pen; the rite is said to yield enduring, unfailing prosperity-like results."}
Alamkara Type: Upacara (devotional address)
Concept: Prosperity is grounded in protection and honoring of life-sustaining beings; go-sevā becomes a dharmic economy of reciprocity.
Application: Maintain a regular practice of feeding, watering, cleaning the cowshed, and reciting a short hymn/prayer; pair ritual with tangible care (seva) for ‘akṣaya’ results.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Grihya/Ritual Observances; Go-seva and Prosperity Rites)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Sacred-space (domestic/agrarian)
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A devotee in a clean cowshed offers fodder and water to a decorated cow (garlands, tilaka), reciting the “Āgāra…” hymn; calves and a cattle-pen gate visible, suggesting enduring prosperity.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: richly patterned gośālā, central cow as lokamātā with garlands, devotee in añjali reciting, calves nearby, warm ochres and greens, lotus motifs and traditional border.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: iconic cow adorned with gold-embossed ornaments, devotee offering lamp and fodder, ornate arch frame, heavy gold work highlighting ‘akṣaya’ auspiciousness.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: gentle domestic ritual scene with clear details—fodder basket, water pot, clean stall—soft colors, emphasis on seva actions alongside recitation.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: pastoral courtyard with cowshed architecture, finely painted cow and calf, devotee chanting from a small manuscript/rosary, delicate flora and patterned textiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Kapi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: उपतिष्ठेद्व्रजेच्चैव = उपतिष्ठेत् + व्रजेत् + च + एव; यदिच्छेत् = यदि + इच्छेत्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 258 (kāmya rites and stotra-prayoga); Agni Purana passages praising go-dāna/go-rakṣā
FAQs
It prescribes a specific ritual act: reciting the “Āgāra…”-beginning sūkta while reverently worshiping the cow in the goṣṭha (cowshed) and visiting the vraja (cattle enclosure) to obtain steady, unfailing results.
It exemplifies the text’s practical ritual compendium—linking Vedic-style mantra/sūkta recitation with everyday household and agrarian observances (go-sevā), showing how Purāṇic instruction extends from theology to lived domestic rites.
Honoring the cow as lokamātā and performing mantra-guided reverence is presented as generating akṣaya (inexhaustible) merit and enduring auspiciousness, reflecting the Purāṇic view that service to sacred beings yields lasting karmic fruit.