Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 6
Chapter 22 — स्नानविधिकथनं
Instruction on the Rite of Bathing
नारायणेन संयम्य वायुमाघ्राय चोत्सृजेत् जलं ध्यायन् हरिं पश्चाद्दत्वार्घ्यं द्वादशाक्षरं
nārāyaṇena saṃyamya vāyumāghrāya cotsṛjet jalaṃ dhyāyan hariṃ paścāddatvārghyaṃ dvādaśākṣaraṃ
Having restrained the breath with the (mantra) “Nārāyaṇa,” and having inhaled the air, one should then release it. Meditating on Hari in the water, thereafter—having offered arghya—one should recite the twelve-syllabled (mantra).
Lord Agni (in dialogue with the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","practical_application":"Breath-regulation with the Nārāyaṇa mantra, followed by water-meditation on Hari, arghya offering, and recitation of the Dvādaśākṣarī for Vaishnava sandhyā/ācamana sequence.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Nārāyaṇa-mantra Saṃyama, Jala-dhyāna of Hari, Arghya, and Dvādaśākṣarī-japa","lookup_keywords":["Narayana mantra","pranayama saṃyama","arghya","dvadasakshari","jala dhyana"],"quick_summary":"Regulate breath with ‘Nārāyaṇa’, meditate on Hari within water, offer arghya, then recite the twelve-syllabled mantra as the core Vaishnava prayoga."}
Concept: Prāṇa-saṃyama and mantra unify attention; deity is contemplated as immanent in ritual elements (jala).
Application: Use mantra-linked breath regulation to steady mind, then perform arghya and Dvādaśākṣarī-japa with focused visualization.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Vaishnava Sandhya/Acamana-Mantra-Prayoga)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A devotee performs breath restraint with ‘Nārāyaṇa’, then gazes into water visualizing Hari, offers arghya, and begins reciting the Dvādaśākṣarī.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, seated yogic devotee with water bowl, subtle depiction of Hari within the water as a luminous reflection, arghya gesture toward rising sun, stylized temple lamp and lotus borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, devotee offering arghya with gold-highlighted water stream, faint Vishnu form shimmering in the vessel, ornate aureole motifs, rich blues and gold.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean instructional composition showing prāṇāyāma posture, then water-meditation, then arghya offering; fine linework and calm palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, riverside terrace at dawn, devotee holding arghya vessel, delicate depiction of breath practice and then offering; detailed sky gradient and reflective water."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Ahir Bhairav","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वायुमाघ्राय = वायुम् + आघ्राय. चोत्सृजेत् = च + उत्सृजेत्. पश्चाद्दत्वा = पश्चात् + दत्वा. दत्वार्घ्यम् = दत्वा + अर्घ्यम्. द्वादशाक्षरम् = द्वादश-अक्षरम् (द्विगु).
Related Themes: Agni Purana Puja-vidhi on prāṇāyāma/saṃyama, arghya-vidhi, and mantra-japa (same khanda)
FAQs
It teaches a Vaishnava nitya-karma sequence: breath-control (prāṇāyāma) keyed to the name/mantra “Nārāyaṇa,” meditation on Hari with ritual water, followed by offering arghya and reciting the twelve-syllabled mantra.
It exemplifies the Agni Purana’s practical compendium style by preserving precise, step-by-step liturgical and yogic micro-procedures (mantra-prayoga, arghya, prāṇāyāma) alongside its broader teachings on dharma, worship, and theology.
The practice is framed as purification and alignment of prāṇa, mind, and offering: meditating on Hari while performing arghya and mantra recitation is understood to cleanse impurities, steady devotion, and generate religious merit through disciplined daily worship.