Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 14
Chapter 35: पवित्राधिवासनादिविधिः
Method of Consecrating the Pavitra and Related Rites
प्रातस्त्वां पूजयिष्यामि सन्निधौ भव केशव इन्द्रादिभस्ततो दत्वा विष्णुपार्षदके बलिं
prātastvāṃ pūjayiṣyāmi sannidhau bhava keśava indrādibhastato datvā viṣṇupārṣadake baliṃ
“Pada waktu pagi aku akan memuja-Mu; hadirlah di sini, wahai Keśava.” Kemudian, setelah mempersembahkan bali kepada Indra dan dewa-dewa lain, hendaklah diberikan pula bali kepada para pengiring Viṣṇu (viṣṇu-pārṣada).
Lord Agni (in instruction on ritual procedure, narrated within the Agni Purana’s discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","practical_application":"Provides a morning invocation for Keśava’s presence (āvāhana) and prescribes bali distribution—first to Indra and other devas, then to Viṣṇu’s attendants—ensuring ritual completeness and protective harmony.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Morning āvāhana of Keśava and bali to devas and Viṣṇu-pārṣadas","lookup_keywords":["prātaḥ-pūjā","āvāhana","bali","indra","viṣṇu-pārṣada"],"quick_summary":"Invoke Keśava to be present for morning worship, then offer bali first to Indra and other deities, and thereafter to Viṣṇu’s attendants as part of the rite’s protective and integrative offerings."}
Concept: Ritual hospitality and cosmic order: invite the deity, then honor the wider divine retinue and guardians through bali, integrating hierarchy without neglect.
Application: In household/temple pūjā, include āvāhana and bali as structured ‘closing the circle’ so the rite is socially and cosmically complete.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Vaishnava worship and bali offerings)
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"At dawn, the worshipper invokes Keśava before the altar, then places small bali portions—first for Indra and other devas, then for Viṣṇu’s attendants—around the worship space.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, dawn light, devotee in añjali before Viṣṇu shrine, small bali bowls placed in a circular pattern, subtle depiction of Indra and attendant figures in peripheral panels","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Keśava icon central with gold, devotee offering bali plates, small labeled bali portions for Indra and Viṣṇu-pārṣadas, ornate lamps and vessels","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, diagrammatic yet elegant layout of bali placements around the altar, devotee performing āvāhana gesture, soft colors and fine detailing","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtyard shrine at sunrise, attendants carrying small offering bowls, devotee distributing bali in sequence, architectural detail and patterned floor"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bilawal","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: प्रातस्त्वां = प्रातः त्वाम्; इन्द्रादिभस्ततो = इन्द्रादिभः ततः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Puja-vidhi passages on āvāhana, bali-vidhi, and parivāra-arcana (same khanda)
FAQs
It prescribes a morning Viṣṇu-pūjā sequence: invite Keśava’s presence (sannidhi), then perform bali offerings—first to Indra and allied deities, and thereafter to Viṣṇu’s attendants (pārṣadas).
It exemplifies the text’s practical ritual manual aspect by detailing procedural worship steps (āvāhana/sannidhi and graded bali offerings), showing how the Purana codifies applied liturgy alongside broader theology and dharma.
Invoking Viṣṇu’s presence and honoring both major devas (like Indra) and Viṣṇu’s retinue is presented as completing worship with due respect to divine hierarchy, supporting ritual completeness (pūrṇatā) and the accrual of religious merit (puṇya).