Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 5
Kapilādipūjāvidhāna — Procedure for Worship Beginning with Kapilā
गावो ममाग्रतो नित्यं गावः पृष्ठत एव च गावो मे हृदये चापि गवां मध्ये वसाम्यहं
gāvo mamāgrato nityaṃ gāvaḥ pṛṣṭhata eva ca gāvo me hṛdaye cāpi gavāṃ madhye vasāmyahaṃ
Les vaches sont toujours devant moi ; les vaches sont aussi, en vérité, derrière moi. Les vaches demeurent encore dans mon cœur, et j’habite au milieu des vaches.
Lord Agni (traditionally narrating Agni Purana’s instructions to sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Stotra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Daily protective remembrance (smaraṇa) and reverential orientation toward cows to cultivate ahiṃsā, gratitude, and a sense of being safeguarded within go-saṅgha.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Mantra","entry_title":"Go-saṃrakṣaṇa-smaraṇa (Cows before/behind/within)","lookup_keywords":["go-sevā","gāvaḥ","rakṣā","smaraṇa","ahiṃsā"],"quick_summary":"A protective devotional utterance placing cows in one’s front, back, and heart, expressing continual refuge in and around the cow-community."}
Alamkara Type: Anaphora (punarukti/anuvṛtti of 'gāvaḥ')
Concept: Go-māhātmya and the ethic of sheltering life; inner placement of the sacred (hṛdaya-sthāpanā).
Application: Use as a daily recitation during go-sevā or before entering a cowshed to reinforce non-violence and mindful care.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Go-seva (Cow-veneration and protective recitations)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A devotee stands calmly amid a circle of cows, with cows depicted in front and behind, and a subtle heart-lotus motif indicating cows ‘in the heart’.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat vibrant colors, devotee in white dhoti with añjali mudrā, sacred cows encircling him, stylized heart-lotus on chest, pastoral grove background, traditional ornamentation","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold leaf halos on cows and devotee, rich red-green palette, embossed ornaments, devotee centered with cows in symmetrical arrangement, temple lamp accents","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, delicate linework and soft shading, instructional devotional scene of go-sevā, cows placed foreground and background, subtle heart symbol, minimal landscape","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed pastoral courtly realism, multiple cows arranged front/back, devotee in simple attire, fine foliage and textured ground, calligraphic cartouche for the mantra"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: mamāgrataḥ → mama + agrataḥ; cāpi → ca + api; vasāmyahaṃ → vasāmi + aham.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 77 (Pūjā-vidhi / go-sevā context)
FAQs
It functions as a protective and auspicious go-smaraṇa (cow-remembrance) utterance: mentally placing cows before, behind, and within one’s heart as a ritualized visualization for sanctity and well-being.
Alongside theology, the Agni Purana preserves practical dharmic observances—short recitations, vows, and purity-oriented practices—showing how everyday ritual life (go-veneration and protection) is codified as applied religious knowledge.
It expresses continual refuge in and reverence for cows (a dharmic symbol of sustenance and purity), cultivating protective merit (puṇya) and a mind oriented toward non-harm, sanctity, and auspiciousness.