Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 21
Chapter 242 — पुरुषलक्षणं
Purusha-Lakshana): Marks of a Man (Physiognomy
पाणिपादं मुखं ग्रीवा श्रवणे हृदयं शिरः ललाटमुदरं पृष्ठं वृहन्तः पूजिता दश
pāṇipādaṃ mukhaṃ grīvā śravaṇe hṛdayaṃ śiraḥ lalāṭamudaraṃ pṛṣṭhaṃ vṛhantaḥ pūjitā daśa
પૂજ્ય દસ અંગો—હાથ અને પગ, મુખ, ગ્રીવા, કાન, હૃદય, શિર, લલાટ, ઉદર, પૃષ્ઠ તથા વૃહંત (વક્ષ/સ્કંધ પ્રદેશ)।
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in ritual procedure)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Devatā-aṅga-nyāsa and limb-wise worship mapping for ritual installation (nyāsa) and pūjā sequencing.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Daśāṅga-pūjā (ten bodily loci for worship/nyāsa)","lookup_keywords":["aṅga-nyāsa","daśāṅga","pūjā-vidhi","deha-nyāsa","devatā-aṅga"],"quick_summary":"Enumerates ten bodily loci to be ritually worshipped/installed in nyāsa. Useful as a checklist for pūjā where the deity is invoked into specific body-parts."}
Concept: Deha as a ritual field (kṣetra) for devatā-āveśa through ordered limb-worship.
Application: Perform nyāsa/pūjā by touching/mentally offering to each listed locus in sequence, maintaining ekāgratā and śuddhi.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Devatā-aṅga-nyāsa and ritual worship procedure)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sādhaka seated before a small altar, performing aṅga-nyāsa—touching hands, feet, face, neck, ears, heart, head, forehead, belly, and back—while offerings and a lamp burn nearby.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat vibrant colors, sādhaka in white dhoti performing aṅga-nyāsa before a brass nilavilakku and small shrine, clear depiction of touching each body-part, sacred calm atmosphere.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold leaf highlights, central seated worshipper with ornate altar, gold haloed deity icon in background, emphasis on ritual gestures (mudrā/nyāsa) and the ten loci indicated with subtle gold accents.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, delicate linework, instructional composition showing sequential nyāsa touches on the body with small Sanskrit labels for each aṅga, minimal background, soft palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly interior adapted as a ritual chamber, fine detailing of altar objects (incense, lamp, flowers), the practitioner touching limbs in sequence, marginal notes indicating the ten aṅgas."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: pāṇipādaṃ = pāṇi+pādam (समाहार-द्वन्द्व). lalāṭamudaram = lalāṭam+udaram (सन्धि-विच्छेद).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 242 (pūjā-vidhi context); Agni Purana sections on nyāsa, kara-nyāsa, aṅga-nyāsa (adjacent verses)
FAQs
It lists the standard set of ten bodily loci used for aṅga-pūjā/nyāsa—specific limbs and regions that are ritually honoured or assigned mantras during worship.
Beyond mythology, the Agni Purana preserves practical liturgical manuals; this verse is a compact procedural checklist for limb-based worship used in domestic and temple ritual systems.
By sanctifying the body through aṅga-pūjā, the practitioner treats the body as a ritual seat of divinity, supporting purity (śuddhi), focused devotion, and merit (puṇya) within the worship sequence.