Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 27
Chapter 40 — भूपरिग्रहो नाम
Bhū-parigraha) / अर्घ्यदानविधानम् (Arghya-dāna-vidhāna
चतुरङ्गुलकं चाधश्चोपलिप्यार्चयेत्ततः ध्यात्वा चतुर्भुजं विष्णुमर्घ्यं दद्यात्तु कुम्भतः
caturaṅgulakaṃ cādhaścopalipyārcayettataḥ dhyātvā caturbhujaṃ viṣṇumarghyaṃ dadyāttu kumbhataḥ
താഴ്ഭാഗം നാല് അങ്കുല-പ്രമാണം വരെ ലേപനം ചെയ്ത് തുടർന്ന് പൂജ നടത്തണം. ചതുര്ഭുജനായ വിഷ്ണുവിനെ ധ്യാനിച്ച് കുംഭത്തിൽ നിന്ന് അർഘ്യം അർപ്പിക്കണം.
Lord Agni (in instruction to Sage Vasiṣṭha, in the standard Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Pūjā setup: preparing the worship spot to a specified thickness/extent, meditating on Viṣṇu’s four-armed form, and offering arghya from a kumbha.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Catur-aṅgula upalepana and Viṣṇu-arghya from kumbha","lookup_keywords":["upalepana","catur-aṅgula","caturbhuja-viṣṇu","arghya","kumbha"],"quick_summary":"Prepare the base by smearing to the stated measure, worship with dhyāna of four-armed Viṣṇu, and offer arghya using water from the ritual pot."}
Concept: Dhyāna + upacāra (arghya) as a complete act of honoring the deity.
Application: Combine mental visualization with correct ritual implements and measures to stabilize attention and ritual efficacy.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Vaishnava worship and arghya-offering procedure)
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A freshly smeared altar base measured to four aṅgulas; a priest meditates on four-armed Viṣṇu while pouring arghya from a kumbha into a small vessel before the deity.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, central caturbhuja Viṣṇu icon in flat iconic style, priest seated with kumbha, white sacred paste on altar base, lotus motifs, warm ochres and deep greens.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Viṣṇu with gold halo and heavy gold work, priest offering arghya from ornate kumbha, gleaming altar edge, rich jewel tones, symmetrical composition.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, delicate facial features, clear depiction of measured upalepana layer, priest’s hand pouring arghya, subtle gradients, instructional clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate indoor shrine scene, detailed textiles, brass kumbha, small arghya vessel, Viṣṇu image on pedestal, fine architectural framing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चाधश्चोपलिप्यार्चयेत्ततः → च + अधः + च + उपलिप्य + अर्चयेत् + ततः. विष्णुमर्घ्यं → विष्णुम् + अर्घ्यम्. दद्यात्तु → दद्यात् + तु.
Related Themes: Agni Purana pūjā-vidhi passages on arghya, kumbha-saṃskāra, and Viṣṇu-dhyāna (same khanda)
FAQs
It gives a concrete Vaishnava pūjā step: ritually prepare (upalepa) the lower portion to a four-aṅgula measure, meditate on four-armed Viṣṇu, and offer arghya from the kumbha.
By preserving precise, practice-ready liturgical micro-instructions (measurement, preparation, meditation, and offering sequence), it exemplifies the text’s compendium style—cataloging ritual technology alongside many other disciplines.
Preparing the worship-space, meditating on Viṣṇu’s form, and offering arghya are purification-and-honor acts that align the worshipper’s intention (bhāva) with dharma, supporting merit (puṇya) and devotional steadiness.