Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 18
Māheśvara-snāna: Lakṣa/Koṭi-homa, Protective Baths, Unguents, and Graha-Śānti
चन्दनागुरुकर्पूरमृगदर्पैः सकुङ्कुमैः पञ्चानुलेपनं विष्णोः सर्वकामफलप्रदं
candanāgurukarpūramṛgadarpaiḥ sakuṅkumaiḥ pañcānulepanaṃ viṣṇoḥ sarvakāmaphalapradaṃ
The fivefold sacred unguent for Viṣṇu—made with sandalwood, agaru, camphor, musk, and saffron (kuṅkuma)—bestows the fruits of all desired aims.
Lord Agni (in instruction to Vasiṣṭha, the standard Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Ritual anointment (anulepana) in Vaiṣṇava pūjā using a five-ingredient fragrant paste to seek desired boons.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Pañcānulepana for Viṣṇu in Pūjā","lookup_keywords":["panchanulepana","Vishnu puja","chandana aguru karpura","mrigadarpa kunkuma"],"quick_summary":"A fivefold unguent—sandalwood, agaru, camphor, musk, saffron—is prescribed for anointing Viṣṇu, said to grant fulfillment of desires."}
Concept: Upacāra-sevā: offering fragrance and cooling unguents to the deity as a means of cultivating devotion and aligning desires with dharma.
Application: In daily/occasional worship, prepare a clean five-ingredient paste and offer with mantra and purity rules, treating it as service rather than mere petition.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Vaishnava worship and ritual anointments)
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A Vaiṣṇava shrine scene: a priest offers pañcānulepana paste to a Viṣṇu mūrti, with conch, lamp, flowers, and incense; five fragrant ingredients displayed.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Viṣṇu in serene stance within sanctum; priest applying sandal paste; bowls of agaru, camphor, musk, saffron; deep reds/ochres, stylized lotus motifs.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Viṣṇu richly adorned with gold; priest offering fivefold unguent in ornate tray; heavy gold leaf on jewelry and arch; bright saffron highlights.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear depiction of five ingredients arranged in sequence; priest performing upacāra with measured gestures; soft shading, instructional clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed temple interior with attendants; tray of perfumes and saffron; careful rendering of lamp flame and textiles; reverent posture of worshipper."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Madhyamavati","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चन्दनागुरुकर्पूरमृगदर्पैः = चन्दन+अगुरु+कर्पूर+मृगदर्पैः; पञ्चानुलेपनं = पञ्च + अनुलेपनम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 266 (Pūjā-vidhi adjacent to anulepana)
FAQs
It prescribes a specific pañcānulepana (five-ingredient fragrant unguent) for Viṣṇu worship—sandalwood, agaru, camphor, musk, and saffron—used as a formal upacāra (offering) in pūjā.
Beyond theology, it records practical liturgical procedure—exact materials for devotional anointing—showing the Agni Purāṇa’s catalog-like coverage of temple/household ritual techniques alongside other sciences.
Offering the prescribed fivefold unguent to Viṣṇu is said to be sarvakāmaphalaprada—merit-producing and conducive to the fulfillment of legitimate desires through disciplined devotional practice.