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
उदर व पृष्ठ, बाहू, उर, जानू व पाद यांशी संबंधित मुद्रा धारण करून विष्णूचे स्मरण करावे. जप करून आठशे (अर्चना/उपचार) यांनी पूजन करावे.
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.