Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 27
Chapter 40 — भूपरिग्रहो नाम
Bhū-parigraha) / अर्घ्यदानविधानम् (Arghya-dāna-vidhāna
चतुरङ्गुलकं चाधश्चोपलिप्यार्चयेत्ततः ध्यात्वा चतुर्भुजं विष्णुमर्घ्यं दद्यात्तु कुम्भतः
caturaṅgulakaṃ cādhaścopalipyārcayettataḥ dhyātvā caturbhujaṃ viṣṇumarghyaṃ dadyāttu kumbhataḥ
Nachdem man den unteren Teil bis zum Maß von vier Aṅgulas bestrichen und hergerichtet hat, vollziehe man die Verehrung. In Meditation auf den vierarmigen Viṣṇu gebe man das Arghya (Ehrenwasser) aus dem Kumbha (Wasserkrug).
Lord Agni (in instruction to Sage Vasiṣṭha, in the standard Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Pūjā setup: preparing the worship spot to a specified thickness/extent, meditating on Viṣṇu’s four-armed form, and offering arghya from a kumbha.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Catur-aṅgula upalepana and Viṣṇu-arghya from kumbha","lookup_keywords":["upalepana","catur-aṅgula","caturbhuja-viṣṇu","arghya","kumbha"],"quick_summary":"Prepare the base by smearing to the stated measure, worship with dhyāna of four-armed Viṣṇu, and offer arghya using water from the ritual pot."}
Concept: Dhyāna + upacāra (arghya) as a complete act of honoring the deity.
Application: Combine mental visualization with correct ritual implements and measures to stabilize attention and ritual efficacy.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Vaishnava worship and arghya-offering procedure)
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A freshly smeared altar base measured to four aṅgulas; a priest meditates on four-armed Viṣṇu while pouring arghya from a kumbha into a small vessel before the deity.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, central caturbhuja Viṣṇu icon in flat iconic style, priest seated with kumbha, white sacred paste on altar base, lotus motifs, warm ochres and deep greens.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Viṣṇu with gold halo and heavy gold work, priest offering arghya from ornate kumbha, gleaming altar edge, rich jewel tones, symmetrical composition.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, delicate facial features, clear depiction of measured upalepana layer, priest’s hand pouring arghya, subtle gradients, instructional clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate indoor shrine scene, detailed textiles, brass kumbha, small arghya vessel, Viṣṇu image on pedestal, fine architectural framing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चाधश्चोपलिप्यार्चयेत्ततः → च + अधः + च + उपलिप्य + अर्चयेत् + ततः. विष्णुमर्घ्यं → विष्णुम् + अर्घ्यम्. दद्यात्तु → दद्यात् + तु.
Related Themes: Agni Purana pūjā-vidhi passages on arghya, kumbha-saṃskāra, and Viṣṇu-dhyāna (same khanda)
FAQs
It gives a concrete Vaishnava pūjā step: ritually prepare (upalepa) the lower portion to a four-aṅgula measure, meditate on four-armed Viṣṇu, and offer arghya from the kumbha.
By preserving precise, practice-ready liturgical micro-instructions (measurement, preparation, meditation, and offering sequence), it exemplifies the text’s compendium style—cataloging ritual technology alongside many other disciplines.
Preparing the worship-space, meditating on Viṣṇu’s form, and offering arghya are purification-and-honor acts that align the worshipper’s intention (bhāva) with dharma, supporting merit (puṇya) and devotional steadiness.