Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 15
Chapter 21 — सामान्यपूजाकथनम्
Teaching on General Worship
दीप्ता सूक्ष्मा जया भद्रा विभूतिर्विमला तथा अमोघा विद्युता चैव पूज्याथ सर्वतोमुखी
dīptā sūkṣmā jayā bhadrā vibhūtirvimalā tathā amoghā vidyutā caiva pūjyātha sarvatomukhī
वह दीप्त, सूक्ष्म, जयदायिनी, भद्रा है; वह विभूति-स्वरूपा और विमला भी है। वह अमोघा, विद्युत्-सम तेजस्विनी, सर्वदा पूज्या और सर्वतोमुखी (सर्वदिशा में व्याप्त) है।
Lord Agni (narrating the hymn/epithets within his instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Stotra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Recitation of Devī’s epithets as a nāma-stuti within pūjā/āvaraṇa worship to invoke specific qualities (radiance, subtlety, victory, auspiciousness, unfailing power, omnidirectional presence).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Devī-śakti guṇa-nāma list (Dīptā–Sarvatomukhī)","lookup_keywords":["Dīptā","Sūkṣmā","Jayā","Vibhūti","Sarvatomukhī"],"quick_summary":"A compact list of Devī’s functional epithets used for praise and invocation. Practically, it can be inserted as a nāmāvalī segment during offerings to align the worshipper’s intent with these qualities."}
Alamkara Type: Guṇānukīrtana (epithet-string)
Concept: Devī is both immanent power (vibhūti) and stainless transcendence (vimala), effective and unfailing (amoghā), present in all directions (sarvatomukhī).
Application: Use these names as contemplative anchors (bhāvanā) while offering light (dīpa), water, flowers—matching ‘dīptā/vidyutā’ with lamp-light visualization and ‘sūkṣmā’ with subtle breath awareness.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Devī-mantra and Śakti-nāma (Tantric-ritual litany)
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Devī manifested as a radiant, lightning-like presence with an all-directional gaze; a worshipper offers a lamp, emphasizing brilliance and auspicious victory.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural of Devī with intense luminous aura, stylized lightning motifs, serene face yet omnidirectional presence suggested by surrounding faces/eyes in the halo, lamp offering in foreground.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting of Devī ‘Dīptā’ with heavy gold radiance, bright halo, jewels, lotus seat, subtle lightning patterns in the background, devotee holding dīpa.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style devotional-instructional art: Devī with labeled epithets around (Dīptā, Sūkṣmā, Jayā, Bhadrā, Amoghā, Sarvatomukhī), clean composition, soft shading.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature of a shrine at dusk: devotee offering a lamp, Devī appearing as a luminous, fine-lined apparition with delicate lightning-like aura, intricate textiles and architectural details."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: vibhūtirvimalā = vibhūtiḥ + vimalā; caiva = ca + eva; pūjyātha = pūjyā + atha; sarvatomukhī = sarvataḥ + mukhī (avyayībhāva).
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa 21 (Devī nāma segments in pūjā-vidhi)
FAQs
It supplies specific Śakti-epithets for stotra-recitation and mantra-japa, describing the Goddess’ functional powers (unfailing results, pervasive presence, purity, victorious auspiciousness) that are invoked during Devī-pūjā.
Alongside topics like polity, medicine, and warfare, the Agni Purana preserves practical liturgical material—name-lists and stotras used in ritual practice—showing its coverage of mantra-śāstra and temple/household worship procedures.
Reciting and meditating on these names is presented as a means to invoke the Goddess’ protective and purifying power, supporting auspicious outcomes (bhadra), victory (jaya), and the removal of impurity through alignment with her all-pervading Śakti (sarvatomukhī).