Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 70
Abhiṣeka-mantrāḥ
Consecration Mantras
अच्छोदा च विपाशा च वितस्ता देविका नदी कावेरी वरुणा चैव निश् चरा गोमती नदी
acchodā ca vipāśā ca vitastā devikā nadī kāverī varuṇā caiva niś carā gomatī nadī
अच्छोदा और विपाशा, वितस्ता तथा देविका नदी; कावेरी और वरुणा भी; निश्चरा तथा गोमती नदी—ये सब पवित्र नदियाँ कही गई हैं।
Lord Agni (traditionally narrating within the Agni Purana framework)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Cosmology","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Nadī-smaraṇa for pilgrimage and ritual selection; identifying sacred rivers across regions for snāna and vows.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Nadī-nāma-smarana: Acchodā–Vipāśā–Vitastā–Kāverī–Gomatī","lookup_keywords":["Acchoda","Vipasha","Vitasta","Kaveri","Gomati"],"quick_summary":"Provides a compact list of sacred rivers across north and south India; used as a mnemonic for tīrtha reverence and rite-location choice."}
Concept: Śauca (purificatory discipline) supported by reverence to nadīs as tīrtha-svarūpa.
Application: Perform snāna and japa on riverbanks; treat rivers as sacred—avoid pollution, maintain ritual cleanliness, and observe yātrā-niyamas.
Khanda Section: Tirtha-Mahatmya / Sacred Geography (Nadi-nama-smarana)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: River
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A flowing ribbon-map of rivers: Vipāśā and Vitastā through mountains, Devikā and Gomatī across plains, Kāverī through lush southern landscape, and Varuṇā near Kāśī—each shown as a goddess-like river presence with pilgrims on banks.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, personified river goddesses labeled Acchoda Vipasha Vitasta Devika Kaveri Varuna Gomati, pilgrims offering arghya on banks, stylized mountains and palms, flat vivid colors, serene composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central Kāverī river goddess with gold halo and ornate jewelry, surrounding smaller river vignettes (Vipasha, Vitasta, Gomati, Varuna), gold-leaf water highlights, temple motifs","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional river-map tableau with clear labels and regional cues (Himalayan foothills for Vipasha, Kashmir valley for Vitasta, southern greenery for Kaveri, Kashi ghats for Varuna), fine linework","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, panoramic landscape with multiple rivers in different terrains, detailed human activity on banks, subtle color gradients, calligraphic river names integrated into the scene"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चैव = च + एव; IAST 'niś carā' is treated as sandhi 'निश्चरा' (निश् + चरा) per Devanagari spacing.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 219 (nadī lists preceding/following)
FAQs
It transmits tirtha-vidya through nadi-nama-kirtana—remembering/reciting sacred river names used in contexts like snāna (ritual bathing), pilgrimage mapping, and purification-oriented vows.
By cataloging rivers across regions, it functions as a geographic and ritual index—an encyclopedic register of sacred landscapes (tirthas) alongside the Purana’s many other knowledge-domains.
Such river-name remembrance and association with tirthas is traditionally treated as purifying (pāpa-kṣaya) and merit-producing (puṇya), supporting vows, pilgrimage intent, and inner sanctification.