Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 16
Worship by Limb-Syllables
Aṅgākṣara-arcana
अभ्यर्च्य च वहिस्तार्क्ष्यं देवस्य पुरतो ऽर्चयेत् विश्वक्सेनञ्च सोमेशं मध्ये आवरणाद्वहिः इन्द्रादिपरिचारेण पूज्य सर्वमवाप्नुयात्
abhyarcya ca vahistārkṣyaṃ devasya purato 'rcayet viśvaksenañca someśaṃ madhye āvaraṇādvahiḥ indrādiparicāreṇa pūjya sarvamavāpnuyāt
まずしかるべく供養したのち、主尊の御前の外側においてタークシャ（ガルダ）を礼拝すべきである。またヴィシュヴァクセーナとソーメーシャを—中央に安置し、さらに周囲の随伴（アーヴァラナ）の外側にも—順次に礼拝すべきである。インドラら侍従の諸神とともに主を供養すれば、望むもの一切を得る。
Lord Agni (instructing Vasiṣṭha in ritual procedure)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Vaishnava temple/household puja sequencing: placement and order of attendant-deity offerings (Garuḍa, Viśvaksena, Someśa, Indra-ādi paricāra) around the main deity and āvaraṇa.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Āvaraṇa-pūjā: Tārkṣya–Viśvaksena–Someśa and Indrādi-paricāra sequencing","lookup_keywords":["āvaraṇa-pūjā","Tārkṣya (Garuḍa)","Viśvaksena","Someśa","Indrādi-paricāra"],"quick_summary":"After worship of the main deity and inner attendants, worship Garuḍa outside in front; place Viśvaksena and Someśa in the middle zone, then worship the outer retinue including Indra and other attendants to complete the circuit and secure desired results."}
Concept: Completeness (pūrṇatā) of worship through āvaraṇa and paricāra-devatā integration around the iṣṭa-devatā.
Application: Design puja so that guardians/attendants are honored in correct spatial tiers, minimizing ritual omissions (doṣa) and strengthening sankalpa efficacy.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Vaishnava temple worship and attendant-deity offerings)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A Vaishnava shrine with the main Lord in the sanctum; Garuḍa worshipped outside facing the deity; Viśvaksena and Someśa placed in an intermediate ring; Indra and other attendants arranged in an outer circle as offerings proceed outward.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural: Vaishnava sanctum with the Lord glowing in the garbhagriha; Garuḍa kneeling outside facing inward; Viśvaksena and Someśa in a middle āvaraṇa band; Indra-ādi attendants in the outer band; rich reds/ochres, stylized lotus borders, ritual lamps.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting: central Vaishnava deity with ornate arch and gold foil; Garuḍa in front outside the sanctum; Viśvaksena and Someśa in a middle register; Indra-ādi attendants in an outer register; heavy jewelry, embossed gold highlights, symmetrical composition.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting: instructional temple layout diagram rendered as a narrative scene—sanctum, intermediate enclosure, outer precinct; priest offering flowers/incense; labeled attendants (Garuḍa, Viśvaksena, Someśa, Indra-ādi); delicate lines, muted palette, emphasis on spatial tiers.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: courtly temple courtyard scene with precise architecture; the Lord within a small sanctum; Garuḍa worship in the forecourt; attendants arranged in concentric groups; fine detailing, patterned textiles, subtle shading, balanced perspective."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shree","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पुरतो ऽर्चयेत् = पुरतः + अर्चयेत्; विश्वक्सेनञ्च = विश्वक्सेनम् + च (अनुस्वार/ञ्-आदेश); मध्ये आवरणाद्वहिः = मध्ये + आवरणात् + वहिः; सर्वमवाप्नुयात् = सर्वम् + अवाप्नुयात्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Puja-vidhi sections on āvaraṇa-pūjā and parivāra-devatā offerings (adjacent chapters in the 300+ range)
FAQs
It teaches āvaraṇa/parivāra-devatā pūjā sequencing—where to place and worship Garuḍa (outside, in front), and how to include Viśvaksena, Someśa, and Indra with the deity’s retinue in a structured temple/mandala worship.
Beyond mythology, it functions as a practical liturgical manual, preserving operational details of temple worship—deity hierarchy, spatial placement, and attendant-deity offerings—showing the Purāṇa as a compendium of ritual technology.
The verse states that correct worship of the Lord together with the attendant deities yields “sarva-siddhi” in intent—completeness of merit and fulfillment of desired aims through properly ordered devotion and ritual completeness.