Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 31
Ṛग्विधानम् (Ṛgvidhāna) — Applications of Ṛgvedic Mantras through Japa and Homa
अघृष्यः सर्वभूतानां जायते संशयं विना चित्रमित्युपतिष्ठेत त्रिसन्ध्यं भास्करं तथा
aghṛṣyaḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ jāyate saṃśayaṃ vinā citramityupatiṣṭheta trisandhyaṃ bhāskaraṃ tathā
वह समस्त प्राणियों के लिए निःसन्देह अघृष्य (अजेय/अस्पर्श्य) हो जाता है। तथा ‘चित्रम्’ मन्त्र से त्रिसन्ध्या में भास्कर (सूर्य) की उपासना करे।
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the common Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Tri-sandhyā Sūrya-upāsanā using the ‘Citram’ invocation to gain protective invulnerability (aghṛṣyatva) and steadiness in daily observance.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Tri-sandhyā Bhāskara-upāsanā with ‘Citram’ (Aghṛṣya-prayoga)","lookup_keywords":["tri-sandhyā","Bhāskara upāsanā","Citram mantra","aghṛṣya","sūrya"],"quick_summary":"Worship the Sun at dawn, noon, and dusk with the ‘Citram’ invocation. The stated fruit is becoming unassailable by beings and gaining protective spiritual force."}
Concept: Kāla-sādhanā: aligning worship with liminal times (sandhyā) cultivates tejas, protection, and inner discipline.
Application: Maintain tri-sandhyā routine with Sūrya-mantra recitation and respectful facing of the Sun’s direction appropriate to the time.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Surya-upasana and Sandhya-vandana related observances)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A practitioner performs Sun worship at three times—dawn, noon, dusk—offering arghya and reciting ‘Citram’; a protective radiance forms a shield around him, symbolizing being unassailable.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural triptych: sunrise, zenith sun, sunset; devotee in each panel offering water (arghya), stylized solar disc with lotus rays, protective aura encircling the figure, traditional borders","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central Surya with gold halo and rays, three small vignettes below for tri-sandhyā worship, gold work emphasizing solar brilliance, rich jewel tones","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean instructional layout showing posture and direction for each sandhyā, subtle script band reading ‘Citram’, soft shading and fine outlines","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, landscaped horizon showing three times of day in a continuous narrative, devotee near a water body offering arghya, detailed sky gradients and sun disc, delicate architectural elements"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Suryakant (or Lalit)","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चित्रमित्युपतिष्ठेत→चित्रम् + इति + उपतिष्ठेत
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Puja-vidhi and Sandhyā-related observances (near 258)
FAQs
It prescribes trisandhyā worship of the Sun (Bhāskara) using the utterance/invocation “Citram,” presenting it as a practical daily upāsanā that yields protective spiritual efficacy.
By recording a concrete daily ritual protocol (time-specific worship and a specific mantric epithet), it exemplifies how the Agni Purana functions as a compendium of applied religious practice alongside its many other subjects.
The verse states that consistent performance leads to being “unassailable by beings,” indicating protective merit (puṇya) and a purification/fortification effect associated with disciplined sandhyā and Sun-worship.