Agni Purana — Bhuvanakosha & Tirtha-mahatmya, Shloka 11
प्रयागमाहात्म्यम्
The Greatness of Prayāga
प्रयागे माघमासे तु एवमाहुर्मनीषिणः गङायमुनयोर्मध्ये इति ख सरितः सागरा इत्य् आदिः, उपस्थमृषयो विदुरित्यन्तः पाठो ग पुस्तके नास्ति श्रवणादस्येति ख , ग , घ , ङ , ज च श्राद्धद्रव्यादि चाक्षयमिति घ त्र्यहं स्नातस्येति घ सर्वत्र सुलभा गङ्गा त्रिषु स्थानेषु दुर्लभा
prayāge māghamāse tu evamāhurmanīṣiṇaḥ gaṅāyamunayormadhye iti kha saritaḥ sāgarā ity ādiḥ, upasthamṛṣayo vidurityantaḥ pāṭho ga pustake nāsti śravaṇādasyeti kha , ga , gha , ṅa , ja ca śrāddhadravyādi cākṣayamiti gha tryahaṃ snātasyeti gha sarvatra sulabhā gaṅgā triṣu sthāneṣu durlabhā
മുനിമാർ പറയുന്നു—മാഘമാസത്തിൽ പ്രയാഗത്തിലെ ഗംഗാ‑യമുന സംഗമത്തിൽ ഗംഗ എല്ലായിടത്തും സുലഭമെങ്കിലും, മൂന്ന് സ്ഥലങ്ങളിൽ അവൾ പ്രത്യേകമായി ദുർലഭയും പരമ ശുദ്ധിഫലദായിനിയുമാണ്।
Lord Agni (narrating Agni Purana teachings in a tirtha-mahatmya context)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tirtha-Mahatmya","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Plan Māgha-month pilgrimage and snāna at Prayāga-saṅgama; prioritize the three specially potent Gaṅgā sites for higher tīrtha-phala.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Māgha at Prayāga—Saṅgama and the three rare Gaṅgā sites","lookup_keywords":["Prayāga","Māgha-māsa","Gaṅgā-Yamunā-saṅgama","tīrtha-phala","tri-sthāna"],"quick_summary":"In Māgha, the Prayāga confluence is singled out as exceptionally potent; though Gaṅgā is accessible widely, her fullest sanctifying efficacy is said to be uniquely ‘rare’ in three locations."}
Concept: Tīrtha-viśeṣa: sacred efficacy varies by place and time (kāla-deśa-viśeṣa).
Application: Choose pilgrimage timing (Māgha) and locus (saṅgama/rare sites) to intensify śraddhā, snāna, and dāna outcomes.
Khanda Section: Tirtha-Mahatmya (Pilgrimage and Sacred Geography)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Māgha season at Prayāga: pilgrims bathing at the Gaṅgā–Yamunā confluence, with the meeting waters clearly distinguished; sages indicating the sanctity of the spot.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, Prayāga saṅgama with stylized blue Gaṅgā and dark Yamunā meeting, ascetics in ochre, Māgha sky, sacred aura lines, traditional flat perspective, ornate borders","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Prayāga saṅgama with gold-leaf halo around the confluence, pilgrims performing snāna, small shrine elements, rich reds and greens, embossed ornaments","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, instructional depiction of saṅgama snāna in Māgha, delicate linework, soft shading, labeled river meeting, calm devotional crowd","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed riverscape of Prayāga confluence, boats and pilgrims, sages gesturing, fine architectural hints on the bank, naturalistic water textures"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: Verse text contains extensive critical apparatus; analyzed the clear pāda: “sarvatra sulabhā gaṅgā triṣu sthāneṣu durlabhā”. Sandhi: आहुः = आहुर् (before m-) + मनीषिणः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 111 (Prayāga-māhātmya context); Agni Purana 112+ (transition to Vārāṇasī-māhātmya)
FAQs
It highlights Māgha-māsa practice at Prayāga—valuing the Sangama (Gaṅgā–Yamunā confluence) as a uniquely efficacious locus for purification and merit compared to ordinary access to the Gaṅgā elsewhere.
It catalogs sacred geography and time-based ritual merit (tithi/māsa-based observance), showing the text’s coverage beyond theology—into pilgrimage science (tīrtha-mahātmya), calendrical piety, and applied dharma.
It teaches that spiritual results depend not only on the act (bathing/approaching Gaṅgā) but also on the sacred nexus of place and time—Prayāga during Māgha—where purification and merit are considered exceptionally concentrated.