Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 7
Chapter 21 — सामान्यपूजाकथनम्
Teaching on General Worship
वनमालां श्रियं पुष्टिं गरुडं गुरुमर्चयेत् इन्द्रमग्निं यमं रक्षो जलं वायुं धनेश्वरम्
vanamālāṃ śriyaṃ puṣṭiṃ garuḍaṃ gurumarcayet indramagniṃ yamaṃ rakṣo jalaṃ vāyuṃ dhaneśvaram
വനമാല, ശ്രീ (ലക്ഷ്മി), പുഷ്ടി, ഗരുഡൻ, ഗുരു എന്നിവരെ അർച്ചിക്കണം; കൂടാതെ ഇന്ദ്രൻ, അഗ്നി, യമൻ, രക്ഷഃ-രക്ഷകശക്തി, ജലം, വായു, ധനേശ്വരൻ കുബേരൻ എന്നിവരെയും പൂജിക്കണം।
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Devata-archana sequencing: honoring Viṣṇu’s associates (Vanamālā, Śrī, Puṣṭi, Garuḍa, Guru) and then dikpāla-like cosmic powers for completeness and protection of the rite.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Associated deities to be worshipped in Vaiṣṇava pūjā (Śrī, Puṣṭi, Garuḍa, Guru; Indra–Agni–Yama–etc.)","lookup_keywords":["devata-archana","vanamala","shri pushti","garuda guru","indra agni yama kubera"],"quick_summary":"The verse supplies a compact roster of attendant and cosmic deities to be honored as part of a complete worship cycle, integrating prosperity, nourishment, guidance, and directional protection."}
Concept: Ritual completeness (pūrṇatā) is achieved by honoring both the iṣṭa-devatā’s retinue and the cosmic regulators (devas of elements/directions).
Application: Use as an āvaraṇa checklist when constructing a maṇḍala or when doing daily/occasional pūjā for protection and auspiciousness.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Devata-archana and ritual worship sequence)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A maṇḍala or altar with Viṣṇu at center and a ring of attendant deities: Vanamālā/Śrī/Puṣṭi/Garuḍa/Guru, then elemental/directional gods like Indra, Agni, Yama, Water (Varuṇa), Wind (Vāyu), Kubera.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, concentric āvaraṇa: central Viṣṇu, Garuḍa kneeling, Lakṣmī with lotus, Puṣṭi as benevolent goddess, outer ring with Indra/Agni/Yama/Varuṇa/Vāyu/Kubera, bold outlines and halos","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, central deity with gold arch, small framed panels around showing Lakṣmī, Garuḍa, Guru, and dikpālas, rich gold highlights on crowns and ornaments","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, diagrammatic clarity: labeled deities placed in a circular maṇḍala layout, soft colors, emphasis on sequence of worship offerings","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, a ritual assembly: priest offering flowers to a series of deities seated in order, fine textile patterns, each deity with distinct attribute (vajra, flame, staff, water-pot, etc.)"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: गुरुमर्चयेत् = गुरुम् + अर्चयेत्; इन्द्रमग्निं = इन्द्रम् + अग्निम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 21 (devatā-archana lists and āvaraṇa order)
FAQs
It gives a puja-vidhi style worship list: the practitioner is instructed to honor a specific sequence of auspicious powers and guardian deities (Śrī, Puṣṭi, Garuḍa, Guru, Indra, Agni, Yama, protective rakṣa-force, Jala, Vāyu, and Kubera) as part of a complete ritual observance.
By cataloging deities and personified principles (prosperity, nourishment, elements, guardians, wealth) within a practical worship protocol, it functions like a ritual handbook—one of the many domains (alongside polity, medicine, architecture, and poetics) that make the Agni Purana encyclopedic.
Worship of these auspicious and protective powers is intended to secure śrī (prosperity), puṣṭi (increase), protection from harm, and orderly alignment with cosmic guardians—supporting ritual purity and favorable karmic outcomes.