Agni Purana — Bhuvanakosha & Tirtha-mahatmya, Shloka 21
Chapter 116 — गयायात्राविधिः (Gayā-yātrā-vidhiḥ) | The Procedure for the Gayā Pilgrimage
महालक्ष्मीं प्रार्च्य गौरीं मङ्गलाञ्च सरस्वतीम् पितॄनुद्धृत्य स्वर्गस्थो भुक्तभोगो ऽत्र शास्त्रधीः
mahālakṣmīṃ prārcya gaurīṃ maṅgalāñca sarasvatīm pitṝnuddhṛtya svargastho bhuktabhogo 'tra śāstradhīḥ
Après avoir honoré comme il se doit Mahālakṣmī, Gaurī, Maṅgalā et Sarasvatī, et après avoir relevé les pitṛ (ancêtres), il demeure au ciel ; et ici, en ce monde, il jouit de prospérité et de plaisirs, doté d’une intelligence fondée sur les śāstra.
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Goddess-worship combined with pitṛ-uddhāra (ancestral uplift) for prosperity, enjoyment, and śāstra-buddhi in life, and svarga after death.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Mahālakṣmī–Gaurī–Maṅgalā–Sarasvatī-pūjā: Pitṛ-uddhāra, Svarga, and Śāstra-dhī","lookup_keywords":["Mahālakṣmī","Gaurī","Maṅgalā","Sarasvatī","pitṛ-uddhāra"],"quick_summary":"Worship of four goddesses is linked to ancestral deliverance and heavenly abode, while granting worldly prosperity, pleasures, and scriptural intelligence."}
Concept: Śakti-devatā worship is presented as a composite bestower of artha (prosperity), kāma (enjoyment), vidyā (śāstra-dhī), and pitṛ-uplift leading to svarga.
Application: Integrate goddess-pūjā with ancestral rites/tarpaṇa intentions, aiming at balanced worldly welfare and posthumous merit.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Devatā-stuti and Pitṛ-tarpaṇa (Ritual worship and ancestral rites)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: shringara
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A devotee performs pūjā to four goddesses arranged as a quartet; offerings of flowers, lamps, and incense; ancestors shown as rising/being relieved; symbols of prosperity and learning (coins, granary, manuscripts) appear.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, four goddesses in a balanced panel, Lakṣmī with lotuses, Sarasvatī with vīṇā, Gaurī radiant, Maṅgalā with auspicious symbols, devotee offering lamp, ancestral figures in subtle upper register, traditional palette and ornament.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, quartet of goddesses with gold halos and heavy jewelry, embossed gold work, devotee at bottom with ārati, prosperity and learning symbols rendered richly, faint svarga clouds above.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, elegant faces and fine detailing, instructional arrangement of four deity icons, clear pūjā items, a manuscript and vīṇā emphasized for śāstra-dhī, gentle celestial background for svarga.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, shrine courtyard with four deity niches, devotee and priest, detailed textiles and offerings, ancestors depicted as translucent figures ascending, refined architectural framing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Shree","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: maṅgalām ca → maṅgalāñca (m + c → ñc); pitṝn uddhṛtya → pitṝnuddhṛtya (n + u sandhi); bhogo 'tra → bhogaḥ atra (visarga before vowel; avagraha indicates elision).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 116 (devatā-stuti and pitṛ-related phala passages)
FAQs
It prescribes a practical ritual sequence: worship of key auspicious Devīs (Mahālakṣmī, Gaurī, Maṅgalā, Sarasvatī) linked with pitṛ-uddhāra (benefit/uplift of ancestors), indicating a combined Devī-pūjā and ancestral merit practice.
It exemplifies the Agni Purāṇa’s compendium style by integrating multiple domains—Devī theology, pūjā procedure, pitṛ-karma (ancestral rites), and the promised fruits (worldly prosperity, heavenly attainment, and śāstric intelligence)—within a single instructional verse.
The verse frames Devī worship as generating both laukika and pāralaukika results: enjoyment and prosperity in life, uplift of one’s ancestors, and posthumous residence in heaven, alongside the cultivation of śāstra-based discernment.