Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 5
Chapter 378: Brahma-jñāna
Knowledge of Brahman
विष्णुनाम्ना च देवेषु वेदान्तेषु च गीयते यज्ञेश्वरो यज्ञपुमान् प्रवृत्तैर् इज्यते ह्य् असौ
viṣṇunāmnā ca deveṣu vedānteṣu ca gīyate yajñeśvaro yajñapumān pravṛttair ijyate hy asau
Dia dipuji dalam kalangan para dewa dan dalam Vedānta dengan nama “Viṣṇu”. Sebagai Yajñeśvara, Tuhan bagi korban suci, dan sebagai Yajña-Pumā́n, Pribadi yang menjelma dalam korban, Dia sesungguhnya disembah oleh mereka yang tekun melaksanakan upacara korban.
Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purana narration to Vashistha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Stotra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Supports liturgical practice: identifies Vishnu as the Vedanta-praised deity and as Yajneshvara/Yajna-Puman, guiding worshippers to see sacrifice as centered on the Supreme Person.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Vishnu as Yajneshvara and Yajna-Puman in Vedanta and deva-stuti","lookup_keywords":["Vishnu-nama","Yajneshvara","Yajna-Puman","Vedanta-stuti","yajna-worship"],"quick_summary":"The verse links the name ‘Vishnu’ with Vedantic praise and identifies him as both Lord of sacrifice and the Person embodied in sacrifice, legitimizing yajna as a mode of Vishnu-worship."}
Alamkara Type: Paryaya (synonymic epithet) / Namokti
Concept: Yajna is not merely a rite but a theistic act centered on Vishnu as both ruler and inner person of sacrifice; Vedanta and deva-stuti converge on the same Supreme.
Application: During ritual or daily offerings, mentally dedicate all components (mantra, oblation, fire, fruit) to Vishnu as Yajna-Purusha; use the name ‘Vishnu’ as the unifying focus.
Khanda Section: Nama-mahatmya / Stotra (Vishnu-nama and Yajna-tattva)
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sacrificial hall with priests offering ghee into fire; above the flames appears Vishnu as the indwelling Yajna-Purusha, receiving the oblations, while hymns from Vedanta are symbolically shown as scrolls or rays of sound.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, vivid yajna-shala with square vedi and blazing agni, priests in white, Vishnu emerging above fire with serene face and four arms, sound-waves of Vedic chant curling around, rich reds and greens, devotional mood.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central Vishnu with heavy gold halo and arch, lower register shows yajna fire altar with offerings, gold highlights on flames and ornaments, inscriptions of ‘Yajneshvara’ and ‘Yajna-Puman’.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean ritual detail: vedi geometry, ladles, ghee pot, priests’ gestures; translucent Vishnu overlay indicating ‘yajna embodied’, soft shading and fine outlines.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed courtly yajna scene with patterned carpets and vessels, fire altar at center, a luminous Vishnu figure in the smoke, delicate calligraphic bands representing Vedanta praise."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: विष्णुनाम्ना = विष्णु + नाम्ना; यज्ञेश्वरो = यज्ञ + ईश्वरः; प्रवृत्तैर् इज्यते = प्रवृत्तैः + इज्यते (विसर्ग-लोप); ह्य् असौ = हि + असौ
Related Themes: Agni Purana Vishnu-stotra/nama-mahatmya sections; Agni Purana yajna-vidhi and puja-vidhi discussions where the deity is identified with the rite
FAQs
It identifies the ritual-theological principle that the deity to be worshipped in yajña is Viṣṇu Himself—known as Yajñeśvara and as Yajña-personified—clarifying the intended recipient and inner meaning of sacrificial worship.
It bridges domains: Vedic ritual practice (yajña, ijyā) and Vedāntic doctrine (Vedānta praise of Viṣṇu), showing how the Purana integrates liturgy, theology, and philosophical interpretation in one instructional frame.
By recognizing the Lord as the indwelling reality of sacrifice (Yajña-Pumā́n), ritual action becomes devotionally oriented, elevating karma (rites) into purifying worship directed to the supreme divine.