Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 15
Chapter 306 — त्रैलोक्यमोहनमन्त्राः
Mantras for Enchanting the Three Worlds
विष्णुं नानाविधानेकपरिवारपरिच्छदम् लोकानुग्रहणं सौम्यं सहस्रादित्यतेजसं
viṣṇuṃ nānāvidhānekaparivāraparicchadam lokānugrahaṇaṃ saumyaṃ sahasrādityatejasaṃ
Renungkanlah Viṣṇu—dihiasi dengan pelbagai jenis rombongan dan para pengiring, yang mengurniai rahmat kepada segala alam, berwajah lembut dan menenangkan, serta bersinar dengan keagungan seribu matahari.
Lord Agni (in instruction to Sage Vasiṣṭha, in the standard Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Stotra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Dhyāna for Viṣṇu-upāsanā: visualization of form, retinue, and cosmic beneficence to stabilize mind before japa/arcana.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Viṣṇu-dhyāna: gentle benefactor radiant as a thousand suns","lookup_keywords":["Viṣṇu-dhyāna","sahasrāditya-tejas","lokānugraha","saumya","parivāra"],"quick_summary":"Meditate on Viṣṇu as compassionate to all worlds, gentle yet immensely radiant, attended by diverse retinues—an aid for devotion and concentration."}
Alamkara Type: Atiśayokti (hyperbole) in 'splendor of a thousand suns'
Concept: Dhyāna as upāya: fixing the mind on Viṣṇu’s auspicious qualities (saumya, lokānugraha) and tejas to cultivate bhakti and ekāgratā.
Application: Use as a pre-japa visualization: mentally place Viṣṇu before you, expand awareness to his cosmic protection, then begin mantra repetition.
Khanda Section: Vishnu-bhakti and Dhyana (Stotra/Dhyana-Lakshana within Purana-narrative)
Primary Rasa: Adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: Shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Viṣṇu seated or standing with a vast luminous aura like many suns, surrounded by varied attendants (parivāra), expression gentle and compassionate, blessing the worlds.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Viṣṇu with large halo radiating concentric solar discs, calm saumya face, attendants arranged symmetrically, lotus and cloud motifs, rich reds and greens, temple-mural flat perspective.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Viṣṇu with massive gold-leaf prabhāmaṇḍala suggesting thousand-sun radiance, ornate crown and jewelry, attendants in smaller scale, blessing gesture, deep jewel-toned background.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, refined shading on Viṣṇu’s face to convey gentleness, luminous aura rendered with soft gradients, orderly retinue, instructional clarity of iconographic elements.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, celestial court with Viṣṇu at center, delicate gold wash for radiance, attendants in detailed garments, subtle landscape of worlds below receiving grace."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: Sandhi resolved: nānāvidhāneka- → nānā-vidha-aneka-; lokānugrahaṇaṃ (compound); sahasrāditya- → sahasra-āditya-.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 306 (dhyāna and pūjā-vidhi sequence)
FAQs
It teaches a dhyāna-lakṣaṇa (meditative specification): visualizing Vishnu as gentle yet immensely radiant, surrounded by a divine retinue—used as a practical focus for japa, pūjā, and contemplation.
Beyond law, polity, medicine, and arts, the Agni Purana also preserves precise devotional technologies—here, a standardized meditation formula (iconic attributes + affect + cosmic function) that can be applied in ritual and daily practice.
Dhyāna on Vishnu as the world-granting benefactor (lokānugrahaṇa) is traditionally held to purify the mind, strengthen sattva, and generate puṇya through sustained remembrance and devotion.