Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 2
Chapter 52: देवीप्रतिमालक्षणं (Devī-pratimā-lakṣaṇa) — Characteristics of Goddess Images
पिङ्गाक्षी च क्षया क्षेमा इला लीलालया तथा लोला लक्ता बलाकेशी लालसा विमला पुनः
piṅgākṣī ca kṣayā kṣemā ilā līlālayā tathā lolā laktā balākeśī lālasā vimalā punaḥ
Et (elle est) Pingākṣī, Kṣayā, Kṣemā, Ilā, Līlālayā ; de même Lolā, Laktā, Balākeśī, Lālasā, et encore Vimalā.
Lord Agni (narrating to sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s dialogic frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Stotra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Nāma-japa and arcana: reciting these epithets as a name-list (nāma-mālā) for invoking specific Devī aspects in worship, protection, and mental dhyāna.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Devī-nāma: Pingākṣī–Vimalā (epithet cluster)","lookup_keywords":["pingākṣī","kṣemā","ilā","līlālayā","vimalā"],"quick_summary":"A compact list of Devī epithets suitable for japa and pūjā; emphasizes auspiciousness (kṣemā), purity (vimalā), and playful divine immanence (līlālayā)."}
Alamkara Type: Anuprāsa (light alliteration) and Nāma-mālā style
Concept: Nāma as upāsanā: repeated epithets cultivate corresponding guṇas—kṣema (well-being), vimala (inner purity), līlā (seeing the world as divine play).
Application: Use as a short daily japa sequence; pair with dhyāna on golden-eyed radiance and inner cleanliness before pūjā or meditation.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Devi-nama-stotra (Goddess epithets used in worship and japa)
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: śṛṅgāra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A garland-like sequence of Devī names written on a scroll; Devī depicted with golden/tawny eyes (Pingākṣī) and a serene, pure aura (Vimalā), with attendants offering flowers for japa.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Devī bust with large pingala eyes, serene smile, white lotus and jasmine offerings, a scroll bearing the names Pingākṣī Kṣemā Ilā Līlālayā Vimalā, warm lamp glow, minimal background","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, half-length Devī with gold-embossed ornaments, prominent golden eyes, bright halo, name-scroll in Devanāgarī, heavy floral garlands, rich gold work emphasizing purity (Vimalā)","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean instructional namāvalī panel: each epithet in a cartouche around Devī portrait; subtle color coding for meanings (kṣema, vimala), fine linework and soft shading","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, a devotee reciting from a small booklet of names before a painted Devī icon; delicate script of epithets on the page; refined palette and detailed textiles"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: piṅgākṣī → piṅga-akṣī; līlālayā treated as a compound name (līlā + layā).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 52 (Devī-nāma lists continuing)
FAQs
It provides a sequence of Devi-epithets intended for nāma-japa (name-recitation) and stotra-style worship, where each name functions as a mantra-like invocation of a specific divine attribute.
Alongside governance, medicine, and arts, the Agni Purana preserves practical liturgical material—name-lists and worship vocabulary—used for daily devotion, temple recitation, and mantra-oriented practice.
Reciting these names is traditionally held to purify speech and mind, invoke the Goddess’s protection (kṣema), and remove impurity (vimala), aligning the devotee with auspiciousness and inner steadiness.