Agni Purana — Bhuvanakosha & Tirtha-mahatmya, Shloka 6
प्रयागमाहात्म्यम्
The Greatness of Prayāga
तत्र वेदाश् च यज्ञाश् च मूर्तिमन्तः प्रयागके स्तवनादस्य तीर्थस्य नामसङ्किर्तनादपि
tatra vedāś ca yajñāś ca mūrtimantaḥ prayāgake stavanādasya tīrthasya nāmasaṅkirtanādapi
Là, à Prayāga, les Veda et les rites du yajña sont, pour ainsi dire, rendus corporels. Même en louant ce tīrtha sacré, et même par la simple récitation de son nom, on acquiert un grand mérite.
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana narration)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Cosmology","practical_application":"Pilgrimage practice: praising/reciting the name of Prayaga as a simple, accessible act for accruing punya and strengthening sankalpa for tirtha-yatra.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Prayaga: Veda-Yajna as Embodied Presence; Nama-kirtana Phala","lookup_keywords":["Prayaga","tirtha-mahatmya","nama-sankirtana","stavana","veda-yajna"],"quick_summary":"Prayaga is portrayed as the living embodiment of Veda and yajna. Even stuti (praise) or mere name-recitation of the tirtha is taught as merit-producing."}
Alamkara Type: Rupaka
Concept: Nama-stuti as a valid dharmic means to generate punya; tirtha as a locus where Vedic potency is manifest.
Application: Daily recitation of the tirtha-name and stotra as a substitute/aid when full pilgrimage is not possible.
Khanda Section: Tirtha-Mahatmya (Sacred Geography and Pilgrimage Merit)
Primary Rasa: Adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: Shraddha
Type: Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"At the confluence of rivers, sages chant Vedic hymns and perform yajna; the tirtha is shown as a living embodiment of Veda and sacrifice while pilgrims recite its name.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, Prayaga sangama with rishis in white garments, yajna-kunda with flames, palm-leaf Vedas personified as radiant figures, calm river confluence, flat bold colors, temple-mural composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central luminous Prayaga sangama, gold-leaf aura around personified Veda and yajna-fire, devotees doing nama-sankirtana, ornate borders, rich reds and greens","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, detailed instructional depiction of yajna at riverbank, priests chanting, pilgrims with folded hands reciting the tirtha name, delicate linework, soft palette, minimal gold","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, panoramic river confluence with tents and yajna pavilion, scholars reciting, subtle architectural details, fine brushwork, naturalistic water and figures"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वेदाश्→वेदाः; यज्ञाश्→यज्ञाः (visarga sandhi). स्तवनादस्य→स्तवनात् + अस्य. नामसङ्किर्तनादपि→नाम + सङ्कीर्तनात् + अपि.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 111.7; Agni Purana 111.9
FAQs
It teaches a tīrtha-māhātmya principle: stava (praise) and nāma-saṅkīrtana (name-recitation) of a sacred site like Prayāga are themselves efficacious religious acts, connected with Vedic yajña-merit.
Alongside topics like ritual procedure and dharma, the Agni Purana also catalogs sacred geography (tīrthas) and their soteriological value—showing how pilgrimage, praise, and name-recitation function as practical religious disciplines.
It asserts that Prayāga is so sanctified that even remembering, praising, or chanting its name yields purification and puṇya comparable to engaging with Vedic ritual power.