Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 7
Devapūjā, Vaiśvadeva Offering, and Bali (देवपूजावैश्वदेवबलिः)
अर्चाभवे तथा वेद्याञ्जले पूर्णघते तथा नदीतीरे ऽथ कमले शान्तिः स्याद्विष्णुपूजनात्
arcābhave tathā vedyāñjale pūrṇaghate tathā nadītīre 'tha kamale śāntiḥ syādviṣṇupūjanāt
ເຊັ່ນດຽວກັນ ເມື່ອບໍ່ມີຮູບບູຊາ (ອັຣຈາ) ກໍບູຊາໄດ້ທີ່ຂອບແທ່ນບູຊາ; ຫຼືບູຊາຫມໍ້ນ້ຳເຕັມ; ທີ່ຝັ່ງແມ່ນ້ຳ ຫຼືເທິງດອກບົວ—ຄວາມສະຫງົບ (śānti) ເກີດຈາກການນະມັດສະການພຣະວິດສະນຸ (Viṣṇu)។
Lord Agni (in dialogue to Sage Vasiṣṭha, as the standard Agni Purana frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Provides sanctioned substitutes (aniconic/portable loci) for Viṣṇu-worship to obtain śānti when a fixed image or temple setting is unavailable—useful for travel, emergencies, or impure/limited circumstances.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Viṣṇu-śānti: Alternative loci of worship (arcā-abhāva)","lookup_keywords":["arcā-abhāva","pūrṇaghaṭa","nadītīra","kamala","viṣṇu-pūjā śānti"],"quick_summary":"If an idol is unavailable, Viṣṇu-pūjā may be performed at the altar-edge, before a full water-pot, on a riverbank, or upon a lotus; such worship yields ritual peace (śānti)."}
Concept: Intent and purity (bhāva/śauca) can sustain worship through authorized substitutes when ideal ritual supports are absent.
Application: When resources are limited, perform worship using sanctioned supports (pūrṇaghaṭa, lotus, tīra) rather than abandoning the rite.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Vishnu-puja, Shanti-prayoga, Archa/Pratima worship settings)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: River
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A devotee performs Viṣṇu worship without an idol—placing a full water-pot on a small altar edge, with a lotus seat and a nearby riverbank setting, indicating alternative sacred supports for śānti.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat vibrant colors, devotee in white dhoti offering tulasī and water before a pūrṇaghaṭa on a vedi edge, lotus motif, riverbank with stylized waves, subtle Viṣṇu aura implied, sacred calm composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, rich gold leaf highlights on the pūrṇaghaṭa and lotus, ornate arch framing an aniconic Viṣṇu presence (śaṅkha-cakra symbols), devotee offering, riverbank elements in the background","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, delicate linework, instructional clarity: labeled ritual loci—vedi edge, pūrṇaghaṭa, lotus seat, riverbank—devotee performing simple upacāras, soft pastel palette","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed riverbank landscape, small altar with full water-pot and lotus, devotee in profile offering, fine textiles and naturalistic flora, minimal divine form shown as symbols (conch/discus)"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अर्चाभवे→अर्चा-अभावे; वेद्याञ्जले→वेदि-अञ्जले; नदीतीरे→नदी-तीरे; ऽथ→अथ; स्याद्विष्णुपूजनात्→स्यात् विष्णु-पूजनात्
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Pūjā-vidhi sections on arcā/kalāśa-pratiṣṭhā and śānti-prayoga (within Puja-vidhi khanda)
FAQs
It teaches valid substitute loci/supports for Viṣṇu-worship when a formal icon (arcā) is unavailable—altar-side (vedi), a pūrṇaghaṭa (full water-pot), a riverbank, or a lotus—as practical means to perform śānti-oriented worship.
By codifying multiple pragmatic ritual substitutions (icon, altar, vessel, natural sacred site, symbolic lotus), it functions like a compact manual of applied pūjā-vidhi—one of the many procedural domains (alongside dharma, polity, medicine, etc.) that make the Agni Purana encyclopedic.
It asserts that the fruit of pacification (śānti)—removal of obstacles and restoration of auspiciousness—depends primarily on sincere Viṣṇu-pūjā, not exclusively on access to a consecrated idol, thus extending merit and efficacy to accessible forms of worship.