Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 12
Chapter 35: पवित्राधिवासनादिविधिः
Method of Consecrating the Pavitra and Related Rites
गन्धादिभिः समभ्यर्च्य गन्धपुष्पाक्षतादिमत् विष्णुतेजोभवेत्यादिमूलेन हरयेर्पयेत्
gandhādibhiḥ samabhyarcya gandhapuṣpākṣatādimat viṣṇutejobhavetyādimūlena harayerpayet
Nachdem man ordnungsgemäß mit Düften und dergleichen verehrt hat — mit Parfüm, Blumen, akṣata (ungebrochenem Reis) und weiteren Gaben — soll man dies dem Herrn Hari darbringen, unter Verwendung des Wurzelmantras, das mit „viṣṇu-tejo-bhavet…“ beginnt.
Lord Agni (in instruction/narration to the sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana discourse frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","practical_application":"Specifies upacāras (gandha, puṣpa, akṣata, etc.) and the use of a particular mūla-mantra to formally offer them to Hari in Vaiṣṇava worship.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Offering upacāras to Hari with the Viṣṇu mūla-mantra","lookup_keywords":["gandha","puṣpa","akṣata","upacāra","mūla-mantra"],"quick_summary":"After worship with fragrance, flowers, and akṣata, present the offerings to Hari while reciting the specified root-mantra beginning ‘viṣṇu-tejo-bhavet…’."}
Concept: Mantra and offering (dravya) together complete worship; the mantra ‘seals’ the act of giving and aligns it with the deity’s tejas.
Application: In daily pūjā, pair each upacāra with its mantra; keep offerings clean and complete (especially akṣata as ‘unbroken’ auspiciousness).
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Vaishnava worship and mantra-offering procedure)
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A pūjā altar with bowls of sandal paste, flowers, and akṣata; the worshipper offers them before a Viṣṇu image while reciting the mūla-mantra.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Viṣṇu shrine with oil lamps, devotee holding flower plate with akṣata, sandal paste container, priestly posture of mantra-recitation, subdued sacred glow","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, Viṣṇu icon richly ornamented with gold, offering tray with flowers and rice grains, ornate vessels, bright devotional palette","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear depiction of each upacāra item (gandha, puṣpa, akṣata) arranged neatly, worshipper in profile chanting, instructional clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed still-life of offerings on a carpeted platform, Viṣṇu image in a niche, worshipper presenting a tray, fine calligraphic border"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: समभ्यर्च्य = सम् + अभ्यर्च्य; विष्णुतेजोभवेत्यादिमूलेन = विष्णुतेजः भवेत् इति आदिमूलेन; हरयेर्पयेत् = हरये अर्पयेत्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Puja-vidhi lists of upacāras and mantra-vidhi for Vaiṣṇava worship (same khanda)
FAQs
It prescribes a specific upacāra-sequence in Viṣṇu-pūjā: worship with gandha (perfume/sandal), puṣpa (flowers), akṣata (unbroken rice), etc., and then formally offer them using the deity’s mūla-mantra (root mantra) beginning “viṣṇu-tejo-bhavet…”.
By codifying practical ritual details—standard offerings (gandha, puṣpa, akṣata) and the correct deployment of a mūla-mantra—it exemplifies how the Agni Purana functions as a manual of applied religious practice alongside its many other subject areas.
Offering customary upacāras to Hari with the mūla-mantra is treated as a complete, mantra-sanctified act of devotion that purifies the worshipper and directs the merit (puṇya) specifically toward Viṣṇu as the intended recipient.