Agni Purana — Bhuvanakosha & Tirtha-mahatmya, Shloka 8
Chapter 114 — Gayā-māhātmya
The Greatness of Gayā
पुनर्ब्रह्माब्रवीद्विष्णुं पूर्णकाले ऽसुरो ऽचलत् शिष्णुर्धर्ममथाहूय प्राह देवमयीं शिलाम्
punarbrahmābravīdviṣṇuṃ pūrṇakāle 'suro 'calat śiṣṇurdharmamathāhūya prāha devamayīṃ śilām
Alors Brahmā s’adressa de nouveau à Viṣṇu : «Quand le temps fut accompli, l’Asura se mit en marche. Alors Śiṣṇu, ayant convoqué Dharma, parla d’une dalle de pierre divine (śilā), façonnée de nature déique.»
Primary narration traditionally: Lord Agni to Vasiṣṭha (frame); within the verse: Brahmā addresses Viṣṇu; Śiṣṇu speaks after summoning Dharma.
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","practical_application":"Frames the ritual-theological basis for treating a consecrated stone/śilā as a divine support or seat in installation narratives; useful for pratishṭhā context and icon/seat selection.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Devamayi Śilā (Divine God-formed Stone) in Deva–Asura Context","lookup_keywords":["devamayi śilā","Dharma personified","Brahmā to Viṣṇu","pratiṣṭhā narrative","deva–asura episode"],"quick_summary":"The verse introduces a ‘divine stone-slab’ spoken of by Viṣṇu after summoning Dharma, establishing a mythic rationale for sacred stone as a divine medium/support in later ritual and iconographic practice."}
Concept: Dharma is invoked as an active cosmic principle that stabilizes divine order and supports sacred establishment.
Application: Treat ritual supports (seat/base/stone) as dharma-grounded instruments; emphasize purity, intention, and rightful procedure in consecrations.
Khanda Section: Pauranic Narrative (Deva–Asura episode; Dharma/ritual instruction motif)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Brahmā addressing Viṣṇu; Viṣṇu summoning the personified Dharma and indicating a radiant, divine stone-slab as sacred support.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, Brahmā with four faces speaking to blue-hued Viṣṇu, personified Dharma appearing as a luminous figure beside a glowing stone-slab, temple-like aura, flat warm palette, ornate jewelry, stylized lotuses.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central Viṣṇu with halo and rich ornaments, Brahmā to one side, Dharma personified holding/gesturing to a divine śilā, heavy gold leaf work on halos and ornaments, deep red background.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean linework, soft shading, instructional feel: Viṣṇu indicating the consecration stone, Brahmā narrating, Dharma present as dignified figure; minimal background with subtle architectural base.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly assembly of deities, Brahmā conversing with Viṣṇu, Dharma personified, a luminous stone-slab on a carpeted platform, fine detailing, pastel sky, delicate borders."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पुनर्+ब्रह्मा→पुनर्ब्रह्मा; अब्रवीत्+विष्णुम्→अब्रवीद्विष्णुम्; काले+असुरः→काले 'सुरः; असुरः+अचलत्→'सुरो 'चलत्; शिष्णुः+धर्मम्+अथ→शिष्णुर्धर्ममथ; अथ+आहूय→अथाहूय
Related Themes: Agni Purana: pratishṭhā/arcā-vidhi sections (icon installation, pīṭha-nyāsa themes); Agni Purana: dharma-personification and genealogical passages around ch. 114
FAQs
The verse primarily conveys narrative-theological instruction: actions occur at the “appointed time” (pūrṇakāla), and Dharma is invoked as an operative principle/personified authority before a decisive act involving a consecrated/divine object (devamayī śilā).
It exemplifies how the Agni Purana interweaves cosmology (timely unfolding of events), theology (Brahmā–Viṣṇu dialogue), ethics/jurisprudence (Dharma invoked as authority), and sacred material culture (a divine śilā), blending narrative with doctrinal categories.
The key takeaway is that righteous order (Dharma) is not incidental but deliberately summoned and consulted; spiritually, it frames decisive actions as aligned with cosmic timing and moral law, supporting merit through dharma-conform conduct.