Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 13
Chapter 23 — पूजाविधिकथनम्
The Account of the Rules of Worship
पूर्वं स्वहृदये ध्यात्वा आवाह्यार्चैश् च मण्डले अर्घ्यं पाद्यं तथाचामं मधुपर्कं पुनश् च तत्
pūrvaṃ svahṛdaye dhyātvā āvāhyārcaiś ca maṇḍale arghyaṃ pādyaṃ tathācāmaṃ madhuparkaṃ punaś ca tat
Mula-mula, setelah merenungkan dewa di dalam hati sendiri, hendaklah ia mengundang (āvāhana) dan memuja dalam maṇḍala ritual; kemudian persembahkan arghya (air penghormatan), pādya (air membasuh kaki), demikian juga ācāmana (air untuk penyucian dengan meneguk), dan madhuparka (persembahan campuran madu)—serta ulangi lagi urutan itu sebagaimana ditetapkan.
Lord Agni (teaching ritual procedure to the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s instructional frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Standard pūjā sequence: internal heart-dhyāna → āvāhana into maṇḍala → arghya, pādya, ācāmana, madhuparka offerings, repeated as per rule; used for consistent deity hospitality (upacāra) in ritual worship.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Āvāhana and upacāra offerings in maṇḍala-pūjā","lookup_keywords":["avahana","mandala-arcana","arghya","padya","achamana","madhuparka"],"quick_summary":"Begin with inner visualization of the deity in the heart, invoke into the maṇḍala, then offer arghya, pādya, ācāmana, and madhuparka in the prescribed order (with repetition where required)."}
Concept: Deity worship mirrors ideal guest-reception: purity, invitation, and respectful offerings; inner dhyāna precedes outer action.
Application: Before any external pūjā, do brief hṛd-dhyāna to reduce distraction; then keep a fixed upacāra order to avoid omissions.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Deva-ārcana and āvāhana in maṇḍala)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sādhaka seated before a drawn maṇḍala, eyes closed in heart-meditation, then offering vessels in sequence: arghya pot, foot-water bowl, sipping-water cup, and madhuparka bowl, arranged neatly on a ritual tray.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: priest before a geometric maṇḍala, stylized vessels labeled arghya/pādya/ācāmana/madhuparka, subdued devotional palette, calm facial expressions","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: deity presence implied by radiant aura over maṇḍala, gold-highlighted offering vessels, ornate tray, rich textiles, temple lamp flames","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clear instructional composition showing the four offerings in order with hand gestures, fine detailing of utensils and water-pouring","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: refined interior with carpeted floor, painted maṇḍala, attendant bringing madhuparka, delicate bowls and ewers, precise perspective"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: स्वहृदये = स्व + हृदये; आवाह्यार्चैश् = आवाह्य + अर्चैः (अर्चैः + च → अर्चैश् च); तथाचामम् = तथा + आचामम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 23 (pūjā-vidhi: āvāhana, upacāra lists, maṇḍala worship)
FAQs
It teaches the procedural order of deity-worship: internal meditation (hṛdaya-dhyāna), invocation (āvāhana) into the worship-space/maṇḍala, followed by standard upacāras—arghya, pādya, ācāmana, and madhuparka—as formal offerings of reception and purification.
By codifying a precise, repeatable pūjā-sequence with technical upacāra terminology (āvāhana, arghya, ācāmana, madhuparka), it functions like a ritual manual embedded within the Purāṇa—one of the text’s hallmark encyclopedic features.
The verse links inner contemplation with outer ritual correctness: meditating on the deity in the heart and then offering purificatory and honorific upacāras is presented as a disciplined way to sanctify the worshipper and properly “receive” the deity, supporting merit (puṇya) through orderly devotion.