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
彼は疑いなく、あらゆる生類に対して侵しがたい者となる。また「Citram」の呼びかけをもって、日の三つのサンディヤー（朝・昼・夕）にバースカラ（太陽）を礼拝すべし。
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.