Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 12
Mantras for Worship Beginning with the Five-Syllabled
Mantra) — Concluding Colophon (Chapter 304 end
गोपीश्वरञ्च सिन्ध्वव्धौ माहेन्द्रे चाच्युतं विटुः सहाद्रौ देवदेवेशं वैकुण्ठं मागधे वने
gopīśvarañca sindhvavdhau māhendre cācyutaṃ viṭuḥ sahādrau devadeveśaṃ vaikuṇṭhaṃ māgadhe vane
सिन्धु-सागर में उन्हें गोपीश्वर कहते हैं; माहेन्द्र पर्वत पर अच्युत। सह्याद्रि में देवदेवेश, और मगध के वन में वैकुण्ठ के रूप में जानते हैं।
Lord Agni (narrating the Agni Purana’s sacred-name and sacred-place tradition to Vashistha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Stotra","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"A kṣetra-index for chanting: invoke the Lord by epithet aligned to ocean/mountain/forest settings during pūjā or pilgrimage narration.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Kṣetra-smarana: Gopīśvara, Acyuta, Devadeveśa, Vaikuṇṭha by place","lookup_keywords":["Sindhu-samudra","Māhendra-parvata","Sahyādri","Magadha-vana","Acyuta"],"quick_summary":"Provides a fourfold mapping of divine epithets to major geographic features; useful as a remembrance litany connecting landscape to theology."}
Concept: Sarvatra-īśvara-buddhi: training the mind to see the Lord’s presence across diverse terrains via nāma-smṛti.
Application: While traveling or hearing place-names, immediately pair them with the epithet to maintain uninterrupted remembrance (smaraṇa-santati).
Khanda Section: Tirtha-Mahatmya / Stotra-Nama-Smarana (Sacred geography and divine epithets)
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Ocean/Mountain/Mountain-range/Forest
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A panoramic sacred map: ocean waves labeled Sindhu with Gopīśvara, a tall peak labeled Māhendra with Acyuta, the Sahyādri range with Devadeveśa, and a dense Magadha forest with Vaikuṇṭha presence.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural panorama with stylized ocean and mountains, four deity vignettes embedded in landscape, ornate floral borders, saturated pigments, Vaikuṇṭha Viṣṇu with conch-disc prominent.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore gold: central Vaikuṇṭha Viṣṇu with gold halo, surrounding circular medallions showing ocean (Gopīśvara), Māhendra peak (Acyuta), Sahya range (Devadeveśa), jeweled embellishments and embossed gold work.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, cartographic-didactic: neat labeled terrain bands (ocean, peak, range, forest) with small deity icons and epithets in calligraphic script, fine outlines and muted palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature landscape with realistic waves, rocky mountains, and forest canopy; small divine figures appear subtly in each terrain, detailed naturalism and architectural touches near Magadha."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Shuddha Sarang","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: गोपीश्वरञ्च = गोपीश्वरम् + च. सिन्ध्वव्धौ read as सिन्धु-अब्धौ (t/dh sandhi in transmission). चाच्युतम् = च + अच्युतम्. सहाद्रौ treated as अव्ययीभाव (सह + अद्रौ).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 304 (tīrtha-nāma smaraṇa series)
FAQs
It teaches nāma-smaraṇa tied to kṣetra (place): Vishnu is remembered by specific epithets associated with particular sacred regions, a practical bhakti-method used in pilgrimage recitation and daily remembrance.
By cataloging a sacred-geographic index—linking divine forms/names to mountains, oceans, and forests—it functions like a reference map for pilgrimage culture, regional worship, and liturgical naming traditions.
Remembering Vishnu through place-linked names is presented as a purifying act that strengthens devotion and accrues religious merit (puṇya) through mindful recollection of sacred abodes and divine attributes.