Agni Purana — Bhuvanakosha & Tirtha-mahatmya, Shloka 25
Chapter 116 — गयायात्राविधिः (Gayā-yātrā-vidhiḥ) | The Procedure for the Gayā Pilgrimage
नारायणं वराहञ्च नारसिंहं नमेच्छ्रिये ब्रह्मविष्णुमहेशाख्यं त्रिपुरघ्नमशेषदम्
nārāyaṇaṃ varāhañca nārasiṃhaṃ namecchriye brahmaviṣṇumaheśākhyaṃ tripuraghnamaśeṣadam
Pour la prospérité auspice (śrī), je me prosterne devant Nārāyaṇa, Varāha et Narasiṃha ; et devant l’Unique connu sous les noms de Brahmā, Viṣṇu et Maheśa—Tripuraghna, le destructeur des trois cités, dispensateur de tous les dons.
Lord Agni (narrating in the Agni Purana’s dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Stotra","secondary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","practical_application":"Devotional namaskāra integrating Vaiṣṇava avatāras with Śaiva epithet (Tripuraghna) and trimūrti identity; used for śrī (prosperity) and sarva-kāma-siddhi framing.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Syncretic namaskāra: Nārāyaṇa–Varāha–Narasiṃha and Tripuraghna as Brahmā-Viṣṇu-Maheśa","lookup_keywords":["Nārāyaṇa","Varāha","Narasiṃha","Tripuraghna","trimūrti"],"quick_summary":"The verse offers a compact praise that bridges Vaiṣṇava avatāras and Śaiva supremacy motifs, presenting the deity as the all-bestowing trimūrti principle invoked for prosperity."}
Alamkara Type: Samāhāra (collective invocation)
Weapon Type: Bow (Tripuraghna motif), Chakra/Gadā (Vaiṣṇava attributes implied)
Concept: Unity behind divine plurality (trimūrti/one-tattva expressed as many forms)
Application: Use as a harmonizing prayer in mixed Vaiṣṇava–Śaiva settings; recite before pūjā to establish non-sectarian devotional intent.
Khanda Section: Stotra & Nama-smaraṇa (Devotional Hymn / Vaiṣṇava-Śaiva Syncretic Praise)
Primary Rasa: Bhakti
Secondary Rasa: Vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A composite devotional tableau: Nārāyaṇa enthroned, Varāha lifting Bhūdevī, Narasiṃha in fierce stance, and Śiva as Tripuraghna aiming at the three aerial cities—yet visually unified by a single radiant divine aura.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, four-panel narrative within one frame, bold outlines, Varāha with Earth goddess, Narasiṃha with intense eyes, Tripuraghna with drawn bow, unified golden prabhāmaṇḍala, temple reds/greens","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central Nārāyaṇa with gold halo, side medallions of Varāha and Narasiṃha, upper register Tripuraghna scene with gold-embossed flames, rich ornament and symmetry","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, refined faces and soft gradients, composite icon chart with labels, emphasis on attributes (śaṅkha-cakra-gadā, Varāha tusk, Narasiṃha claws, Śiva bow), instructional elegance","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, mythic scenes arranged like vignettes on one page, delicate architecture for Tripura cities, fine textile detail on deities, subtle palette, calligraphy for names"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वराहञ्च = वराहम् + च; नमेच्छ्रिये = नमेत् + श्रिये; त्रिपुरघ्नमशेषदम् = त्रिपुरघ्नम् + अशेषदम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana avatāra and stotra materials in other adhyāyas (Vaiṣṇava and Śaiva praises); Agni Purana 116 stotra/nāma-smaraṇa cluster
FAQs
It teaches a practical stotra-vidhi principle: invoking multiple divine forms (Viṣṇu’s avatāras and Śiva’s epithet) through namaskāra for attaining śrī (auspicious prosperity) and comprehensive boons (aśeṣa-phala).
It compresses key theological identifiers—Vaiṣṇava avatāras (Varāha, Narasiṃha), the Trimūrti naming (Brahmā–Viṣṇu–Maheśa), and a major Śaiva mythic title (Tripuraghna)—showing how the Agni Purana catalogs and harmonizes diverse sectarian traditions within a single liturgical frame.
Salutation (namas) to these forms is presented as a merit-bearing act that aligns the devotee with auspiciousness (śrī), removes obstacles through divine protection, and supports fulfillment of righteous aims by seeking the “bestower of all” (aśeṣada).