Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 6
Pratiṣṭhā-Kalaśa-Śodhana-Ukti (Instruction on Purifying the Consecration Pitcher) — Chapter 85
नकुलीशो हरिश् चन्द्रः श्रीशैलो दशमः स्मृतः अन्वीशो ऽस्रातिकेशश् च महाकालो ऽथ मध्यमः
nakulīśo hariś candraḥ śrīśailo daśamaḥ smṛtaḥ anvīśo 'srātikeśaś ca mahākālo 'tha madhyamaḥ
Nakulīśa, Hari et Candra — Śrīśaila est rappelé comme le dixième. Il y a aussi Anvīśa et Asrātikeśa ; puis Mahākāla, celui qui se tient au milieu (de l’énumération).
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the typical Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Stotra","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Used for Śiva-smaraṇa and kṣetra/liṅga identification in pilgrimage, worship planning, and liturgical recitation; supports mapping of sacred manifestations to specific sites/forms.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Śaiva-kṣetra/liṅga-nāma-saṅgraha (Nakulīśa–Śrīśaila–Mahākāla etc.)","lookup_keywords":["Nakulīśa","Śrīśaila","Mahākāla","liṅga-nāma","kṣetra-māhātmya"],"quick_summary":"A compact enumeration of Śaiva names/sites, anchoring devotion to identifiable manifestations (kṣetra/liṅga). Practical for pilgrims and ritualists to sequence remembrance and offerings."}
Concept: Nāma-smaraṇa and kṣetra-smaraṇa as accessible means to connect with Śiva’s manifold presence.
Application: Daily recitation of these names as a vrata-like remembrance; during yātrā, use the list to structure visits and offerings.
Khanda Section: Shaiva-Kshetra-Mahatmya and Linga-Nama-Smarana (Sacred Shaiva sites/manifestations)
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Mountain
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A devotional map-like tableau: Śiva-liṅga shrines labeled Nakulīśa, Śrīśaila, Mahākāla; pilgrims with offerings; a central liṅga radiating to multiple kṣetra-forms.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Śiva-liṅga in sanctum with oil lamps, surrounding vignettes of Śrīśaila mountain and Mahākāla shrine, pilgrims carrying flowers and bilva, deep reds/ochres, stylized clouds.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central Mahākāla/Śiva-liṅga with gold aureole, inset panels showing Śrīśaila mountain shrine and Nakulīśa teacher aspect, heavy gold work on temple arches and jewelry.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean narrative panels with labels for each kṣetra-name, gentle colors, emphasis on shrine architecture and ritual items (bilva, water pot, incense).","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed landscape with a mountain temple (Śrīśaila), a city shrine (Mahākāla), pilgrims and ascetics, fine inscriptions naming each manifestation, delicate palette."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: हरिश् = हरिः (visarga before च); अन्वीशो ऽस्रातिकेशश् = अन्वीशः अस्रातिकेशः च (’o = अः + अ); महाकालो ऽथ = महाकालः अथ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 85 (Śiva-nāma/kṣetra enumerations in surrounding verses)
FAQs
It transmits a structured nāma-smaraṇa (name-recitation) list of Shaiva manifestations/kshetras—used in devotional japa, pilgrimage cataloguing, and ritual remembrance of specific Shiva forms such as Śrīśaila and Mahākāla.
By preserving a compact register of sacred Shaiva names and places, it functions like a religious gazetteer—one of the Agni Purana’s hallmark encyclopedic features alongside its coverage of ritual, polity, medicine, and arts.
Remembering and reciting recognized Shiva names/kshetras is traditionally held to purify merit (puṇya), support vrata and tīrtha intentions, and focus devotion on Shiva as manifest in multiple sacred forms such as Mahākāla.