Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 8
Chapter 23 — पूजाविधिकथनम्
The Account of the Rules of Worship
उदरं च तथा पृष्ठं बाहुरुजानुपादकं मुद्रां दत्त्वा स्मरेत् विष्णुं जप्त्वाष्टशतमर्चयेत्
udaraṃ ca tathā pṛṣṭhaṃ bāhurujānupādakaṃ mudrāṃ dattvā smaret viṣṇuṃ japtvāṣṭaśatamarcayet
ಉದರ, ಪೃಷ್ಠ, ಬಾಹು, ಉರ, ಜಾನು ಮತ್ತು ಪಾದಗಳಿಗೆ ಸಂಬಂಧಿಸಿದ ಮುದ್ರೆಯನ್ನು ಧರಿಸಿ ವಿಷ್ಣುವನ್ನು ಸ್ಮರಿಸಬೇಕು. ಜಪ ಮಾಡಿ ಎಂಟುನೂರು (ಅರ್ಚನೆ/ಉಪಚಾರ)ಗಳಿಂದ ಪೂಜಿಸಬೇಕು.
Lord Agni (instructional narration to Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Stotra","practical_application":"Mudrā-nyāsa with bodily loci (abdomen, back, arms, chest, knees, feet) followed by Viṣṇu-smaraṇa, japa, and a fixed-count arcana (800) for disciplined worship.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Mudrā-nyāsa with Viṣṇu-smaraṇa and Aṣṭaśata Arcana","lookup_keywords":["mudrā","Viṣṇu-dhyāna","japa","aṣṭaśata","arcana"],"quick_summary":"Form the prescribed mudrā involving major body regions, meditate on Viṣṇu, then complete japa and perform worship in a counted cycle of eight hundred offerings/recitations to stabilize devotion and concentration."}
Concept: Embodied devotion: mudrā aligns body and mind; counted worship (saṅkhyā-niyama) disciplines attention and deepens smaraṇa.
Application: Adopt a fixed-count practice (e.g., 108/800) with a consistent mudrā and dhyāna to reduce distraction and build daily sādhana continuity.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Vishnu-mantra-japa and Mudra-nyasa)
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A devotee seated in pūjā posture forming a ritual mudrā, with attention drawn to abdomen/back/arms/chest/knees/feet alignment; a Viṣṇu image or śālagrāma on the altar; repeated offerings counted.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Viṣṇu shrine with lamp, devotee forming mudrā, stylized body regions subtly emphasized, rows of flowers indicating many offerings, warm ochres and reds.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central Viṣṇu icon with gold work, devotee in foreground with mudrā, heaps of flowers and tulasī, ornate pillars and arch, luminous gold highlights.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional depiction: devotee posture with highlighted body points (abdomen, back, arms, chest, knees, feet), altar with Viṣṇu, counting beads and offering plate.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate indoor shrine scene, detailed offering trays suggesting 800-count worship, fine rendering of hand mudrā and prayer beads, delicate architectural backdrop."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: japtvā+aṣṭaśatam+arcayet→japtvāṣṭaśatamarcayet
Related Themes: Agni Purana 23 (Viṣṇu-pūjā sequence; japa and arcana counts)
FAQs
It teaches a practical pūjā-sequence: assume a specified mudrā/nyāsa-like posture involving key body parts, meditate on Viṣṇu (smaraṇa), perform mantra-japa, and complete worship with an eight-hundred-count arcana (offerings/recitations).
Alongside theology, the Agni Purana preserves step-by-step liturgical technology—mudrā, smaraṇa, japa, and quantified arcana—functioning like a compact ritual handbook embedded within a Purāṇic compendium.
The verse frames devotion as disciplined practice: embodied mudrā plus focused remembrance and counted worship are presented as merit-producing acts that stabilize attention on Viṣṇu and ritually sanctify the practitioner.