Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 6
Chapter 21 — सामान्यपूजाकथनम्
Teaching on General Worship
हृदयञ्च शिरः शूलं वर्मनेत्रमथास्त्रकम् शङ्खं चक्रं गदां पद्मं श्रीवत्सं कौस्तुभं यजेत्
hṛdayañca śiraḥ śūlaṃ varmanetramathāstrakam śaṅkhaṃ cakraṃ gadāṃ padmaṃ śrīvatsaṃ kaustubhaṃ yajet
Seseorang hendaklah memuja kuasa-kuasa pemelihara Tuhan pada hati dan pada kepala; kemudian trisula, perisai baju zirah dan mata, lalu senjata peluru suci (Astra). Juga hendaklah dipuja sangkha, cakra, gada, padma (teratai), tanda Śrīvatsa, serta permata Kaustubha.
Lord Agni (in dialogue, instructing sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Aṅga-nyāsa/āvaraṇa-pūjā in Vaiṣṇava worship: mentally/ritually placing and honoring the Lord’s śaktis and emblems (śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-padma, Śrīvatsa, Kaustubha) for protection and sanctification of the body and altar.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Vaiṣṇava-nyāsa of the Lord’s emblems (Śaṅkha–Cakra–Gadā–Padma, Śrīvatsa, Kaustubha)","lookup_keywords":["nyasa","shankha chakra gada padma","srivatsa","kaustubha","astra-varma-netra"],"quick_summary":"Worship is performed by sequentially installing presiding powers in heart/head and then honoring protective/weapon aspects and the classic Vaiṣṇava emblems, culminating in Śrīvatsa and Kaustubha as auspicious identifiers of Viṣṇu."}
Weapon Type: Discus (cakra) and astra (missile-weapon); trident mentioned as protective implement in the nyāsa list
Concept: Devatā-aṅga and āyudha are treated as conscious śaktis; worship internalizes divine protection and identity with the Lord’s auspicious marks.
Application: Use as a checklist for āvaraṇa/nyāsa during pūjā, especially before mantra-japa and offering sequences.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Vaishnava iconography and worship/nyasa of the Lord’s emblems)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual diagram or altar where the worshipper mentally places divinized emblems—conch, discus, mace, lotus—then honors Śrīvatsa and Kaustubha on Viṣṇu’s chest, with gestures of nyāsa to heart and head.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, deep mineral colors, Viṣṇu caturbhuja holding śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-padma, prominent Śrīvatsa and Kaustubha, priest performing hṛdaya-śiras nyāsa, stylized lotus borders, sacred glow","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Viṣṇu seated on lotus with śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-padma, heavy gold foil highlighting Kaustubha jewel and Śrīvatsa, ornate arch, ritual implements in foreground","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional nyāsa scene: priest touching heart and head, small labeled emblems around Viṣṇu, clean linework, soft palette, emphasis on sequence and clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly precision: Viṣṇu with emblems, attendant holding conch/discus, worshipper performing nyāsa, fine detailing of jewel (Kaustubha) and chest mark (Śrīvatsa), patterned carpet and halo"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: हृदयञ्च = हृदयम् + च; वर्मनेत्रमथास्त्रकम् = वर्मनेत्रम् + अथ + अस्त्रकम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 21 (Pūjā-vidhi sections on nyāsa/āvaraṇa)
FAQs
It teaches a Vaishnava puja/nyasa sequence: worship is directed to the heart and head and then to the Lord’s protective emblems and weapons (trident, armor, eye, astra; conch, discus, mace, lotus, Śrīvatsa, Kaustubha) as worship-worthy divine powers.
By cataloging specific divine symbols and weapons and prescribing how they are ritually honored, it preserves practical liturgical knowledge alongside theology—typical of the Agni Purana’s wide-ranging, manual-like coverage of worship methods and sacred iconography.
Worshipping the Lord’s emblems as protective and auspicious powers is presented as a purificatory act that strengthens devotion (bhakti) and invokes divine protection, aligning the practitioner’s body-mind centers (heart/head) with sacred presence.