Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 6
Chapter 31 — मार्जनविधानं
The Procedure of Mārjana / Purificatory Sprinkling
वराह नरसिंहेश वामनेश त्रिविक्रम हरग्रीवेश सर्वेश हृषीकेश हराशुभम्
varāha narasiṃheśa vāmaneśa trivikrama haragrīveśa sarveśa hṛṣīkeśa harāśubham
O Lord in the forms of Varāha and Narasiṃha; O Lord Vāmana, O Trivikrama; O Lord Hayagrīva; O Lord of all; O Hṛṣīkeśa—remove and destroy inauspiciousness.
Lord Agni (teaching a stotra/mantra section to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Stotra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Nama-japa and stotra-recitation to remove inauspiciousness (harashubha) by invoking multiple Vishnu-avatara epithets.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Avatara-nama invocation for removal of inauspiciousness","lookup_keywords":["varaha","narasimha","vamana","hayagriva","hrishikesha"],"quick_summary":"A compact name-string of Vishnu’s avatara-forms used as a protective stotra: recite to dispel ashuba and stabilize auspicious conditions."}
Alamkara Type: Anuprasa (repeated -esha vocatives)
Concept: Remembrance of the Lord’s forms (avatara-smriti) functions as raksha and inner purification; ashuba is countered by sattvic alignment.
Application: Use as a short stotra before travel, ritual, study, or during fear/inauspicious omens; repeat as japa with focused bhava.
Khanda Section: Avataras & Vishnu-sahasranama-style Stotra (Vaishnava Naman/Mantra)
Primary Rasa: Veera
Secondary Rasa: Shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A vertical garland of Vishnu’s avatara-forms appearing as radiant icons while a devotee chants; the final gesture is the dispersal of dark inauspicious clouds.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stacked divine vignettes: Varaha rescuing earth, Narasimha roaring, Vamana with umbrella, Trivikrama striding, Hayagriva holding scriptures, Hrishikesha serene; dark ashuba clouds dissolving; bold outlines, saturated greens/reds","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central Hrishikesha with gold halo, surrounding medallions of Varaha/Narasimha/Vamana/Trivikrama/Hayagriva; heavy gold embossing, jewel tones, auspicious lotus motifs, ‘harashubham’ visualized as broken black veil","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, neat icon-panels with captions, devotee seated in japa posture; soft pastel palette, refined ornament, emphasis on clarity of each avatara attribute","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, devotee in a garden pavilion chanting; above, cloud roundels show each avatara; fine brushwork, delicate gold, ashuba shown as fleeing shadow figures"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सम्बोधन-श्रृङ्खला; ‘हराशुभम्’ = हर (लोट्) + अशुभम् (कर्म).
Related Themes: Agni Purana avatara-katha and stotra sections (general); Agni Purana Vishnu-nama/kavacha passages (general)
FAQs
It functions as a protective nāma-mantra: invoking specific avatāra-names of Viṣṇu to neutralize aśubha (inauspicious forces) and secure auspiciousness in worship and daily recitation.
Alongside subjects like polity, medicine, and arts, the Agni Purana preserves practical liturgical material—name-lists and stotras used for protection, purification, and devotion—showing its breadth as a ritual and knowledge compendium.
Recitation with devotion is presented as a means to remove aśubha—sin, obstacles, and misfortune—by taking refuge in Viṣṇu’s avatāra-forms and the Lordship implied by titles like Sarveśa and Hṛṣīkeśa.