Agni Purana — Bhuvanakosha & Tirtha-mahatmya, Shloka 33
अध्याय ११५ — गयायात्राविधिः
Procedure for the Pilgrimage to Gayā
ब्रह्मविष्णुनृसिंहाख्यं वराहादिं नमाम्यहं ततो गदाधरं दृष्ट्वा कुलानां शतमुद्धरेत्
brahmaviṣṇunṛsiṃhākhyaṃ varāhādiṃ namāmyahaṃ tato gadādharaṃ dṛṣṭvā kulānāṃ śatamuddharet
Ich verneige mich vor Ihm, der als Brahmā, als Viṣṇu und als Narasiṃha verkündet wird—beginnend mit (der Gestalt) Varāha und den weiteren. Danach erhebt, wer Gadādhara (Viṣṇu, den Keulenträger) schaut, hundert Generationen seiner Sippe.
Lord Agni (narrating the Agni Purana’s teachings, traditionally to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Stotra","practical_application":"Recite as avatāra-salutation and phala-śruti to cultivate darśana-bhakti and faith in salvific merit for one’s lineage.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Phala-śruti of Gadādhara-darśana and avatāra-namaskāra","lookup_keywords":["Varāha","Narasiṁha","Gadādhara","phala-śruti","kula-uddhāra"],"quick_summary":"Saluting Viṣṇu’s avatāras (Varāha onward) and beholding Gadādhara is declared to uplift a hundred generations—emphasizing darśana and namaskāra as powerful devotional acts."}
Alamkara Type: Arthāntaranyāsa (assertion supported by result)
Concept: Darśana and namaskāra as dharmic acts with transgenerational puṇya (kula-uddhāra).
Application: Encourages pilgrimage/temple-visit and reverent viewing of Viṣṇu’s form as a disciplined devotional practice.
Khanda Section: Avataras & Vishnu-stuti (Phala-shruti: merit of darshana and namaskara)
Primary Rasa: Adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: Bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sequence-like tableau: Varāha and Narasiṁha forms indicated, culminating in a temple darśana of Gadādhara; ancestral figures symbolically uplifted behind the devotee.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural with narrative panels: Varāha lifting Earth, Narasiṁha in protective stance, central Gadādhara in serene posture; devotee at threshold; faint ancestral silhouettes rising upward.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore triptych: side medallions of Varāha and Narasiṁha, central Gadādhara with gold halo; devotee offering; gold embossing emphasizing ‘kula-uddhāra’ theme via ascending lotus motifs.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting with clean narrative flow; three registers showing avatāra forms and final darśana; subtle inscriptions of names; calm devotional palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature with architectural temple façade; devotee viewing Gadādhara; small vignettes of Varāha and Narasiṁha in cloud-borne cartouches; refined detailing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: नमाम्यहं = नमामि + अहम् (इकार-सन्धिः: इ + अ → य). शतमुद्धरेत् = शतम् + उद्धरेत् (म् + उ → मु).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 115 (avatāra-stuti and phala-śruti context)
FAQs
It teaches a bhakti-practice: namaskāra (reverential salutation) to Viṣṇu in multiple avatāra-identities, and the doctrine of darśana-phala—spiritual merit obtained by beholding Gadādhara (Viṣṇu with the mace).
It exemplifies the Purana’s cataloging method: listing divine forms (avatāras and epithets) alongside a phala-śruti (stated result), thereby combining theology, devotional practice, and merit-doctrine in a compact, instructional format.
The verse asserts that devotion expressed through salutation and darśana of Gadādhara generates merit powerful enough to benefit not only the practitioner but also to spiritually uplift a hundred generations of their lineage.
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