Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 18
Chapter 23 — पूजाविधिकथनम्
The Account of the Rules of Worship
व्यस्तेन च समस्तेन अङ्गैर् वीजेन वै यजेत् जप्त्वा प्रदक्षिणीकृत्य स्तुत्त्वार्ध्यञ्च समर्प्य च
vyastena ca samastena aṅgair vījena vai yajet japtvā pradakṣiṇīkṛtya stuttvārdhyañca samarpya ca
Sesungguhnya hendaklah dilakukan pemujaan dengan ‘benih’ (bīja), menggunakan mantra anggota (aṅga) baik secara terpisah (vyasta) mahupun secara gabungan (samasta). Setelah melakukan japa, hendaklah mengelilingi (pradakṣiṇā), melantunkan pujian, lalu mempersembahkan arghya sebagai penghormatan.
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Perform bīja-based worship with aṅga-mantras in both segmented (vyasta) and combined (samasta) forms, followed by japa, pradakṣiṇā, stuti, and arghya offering—usable as a complete pūjā sequence.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Bīja-aṅga worship sequence: vyasta/samasta aṅga-mantras, japa, pradakṣiṇā, stuti, arghya","lookup_keywords":["bīja mantra","aṅga-nyāsa","vyasta samasta","pradakṣiṇā","arghya-samarpaṇa"],"quick_summary":"Use the seed-mantra with limb-mantras individually and collectively, then complete worship through repetition, circumambulation, praise, and respectful libation."}
Concept: Mantra works through both analytic articulation (vyasta) and synthetic wholeness (samasta); bodily ‘aṅga’ alignment supports mental steadiness culminating in offering and praise.
Application: Structure daily worship: nyāsa → japa → pradakṣiṇā → stuti → arghya, maintaining continuity and completeness.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Mantra-japa, aṅga-nyāsa, pradakṣiṇā, arghya-samarpaṇa)
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A practitioner performs aṅga-nyāsa touching limbs with mantra, then sits for japa, rises to circumambulate the shrine, recites stuti, and finally offers arghya in a vessel before the deity.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural sequence panel: priest doing aṅga-nyāsa gestures, then japa with mālā, then pradakṣiṇā around a small shrine, then stuti with folded hands, then arghya offering; bold outlines, temple interior motifs","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, single composite scene: deity on throne with gold halo, devotee in foreground with mālā and arghya-pātra, subtle depiction of pradakṣiṇā path, rich gold embellishment on vessels and ornaments","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style instructional tableau, four-step layout in one frame (nyāsa/japa/pradakṣiṇā/stuti-arghya), clean labels, soft colors, emphasis on hand positions and ritual implements","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, elegant temple-court setting, devotee performing nyāsa and japa, attendants, circular movement implied by repeated figure positions, arghya vessel detailed with reflections, fine architectural borders"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अङ्गैर् → अङ्गैः (रेफ-श्रुति/विसर्ग-लोप लेखनभेद); स्तुत्त्वार्ध्यञ्च → स्तुत्वा + अर्घ्यम् + च (त्-त् संयोग/लेखनभेद).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 23 (mantra-japa, aṅga-nyāsa, pradakṣiṇā, arghya sections)
FAQs
It teaches a precise worship-sequence: apply/recite aṅga-mantras (individually and collectively) with the bīja, then perform japa, circumambulation (pradakṣiṇā), stuti (praise), and finally offer arghya.
By functioning like a compact ritual manual: it codifies mantric technique (bīja, aṅga usage) and standardized liturgical steps (japa–pradakṣiṇā–stuti–arghya), showing the Agni Purana’s coverage beyond myth into practical religious procedure.
Following the ordered acts of mantra-recitation, reverential movement, praise, and offering is presented as a complete, purifying mode of devotion that properly ‘seals’ worship and accrues religious merit through disciplined, respectful ritual conduct.