Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 63
Abhiṣeka-mantrāḥ
Consecration Mantras
चत्वारः सागराः पान्तु तीर्थानि विविधानि च हैरण्यकस्तथेति घ , ङ , ज च हिरण्मयश्तथेति छ पुष्करश् च प्रयागश् च प्रभासो नैमिषः परः
catvāraḥ sāgarāḥ pāntu tīrthāni vividhāni ca hairaṇyakastatheti gha , ṅa , ja ca hiraṇmayaśtatheti cha puṣkaraś ca prayāgaś ca prabhāso naimiṣaḥ paraḥ
ଚାରି ସାଗର ମୋତେ ରକ୍ଷା କରୁନ୍ତୁ, ଏବଂ ବିଭିନ୍ନ ତୀର୍ଥମାନେ ମଧ୍ୟ। ତଥା ହୈରଣ୍ୟକ (ଘ, ଙ, ଜ ଅକ୍ଷରଦ୍ୱାରା) ଓ ହିରଣ୍ମୟ (ଛ ଅକ୍ଷରଦ୍ୱାରା); ପୁଷ୍କର, ପ୍ରୟାଗ, ପ୍ରଭାସ ଓ ପରମ ନୈମିଷ ମଧ୍ୟ ରକ୍ଷା କରୁନ୍ତୁ।
Lord Agni (teaching to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Recitation of tīrtha-nāma and ocean-invocations for protection, pilgrimage orientation, and śānti during rites and travel.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Rakṣā-śānti: Catur-samudra and Major Tīrthas (Puṣkara, Prayāga, Prabhāsa, Naimiṣa, etc.)","lookup_keywords":["tirtha","Pushkara","Prayaga","Prabhasa","Naimisha"],"quick_summary":"A protective litany invoking the four oceans and prominent tīrthas. Practically, it serves as a śānti-pāṭha and a pilgrimage index of high-merit sites."}
Alamkara Type: Nāma-mālā (catalogue style)
Concept: Tīrtha-smaraṇa as a dhārmic means of purification and protection; sacred space as moral-ritual power.
Application: Use as a protective preface to travel, vrata, snāna, or daily śānti; also as a mnemonic list for planning pilgrimage circuits.
Khanda Section: Tirtha-mahatmya (Sacred Geography and Pilgrimage Merit)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A map-like sacred panorama: four oceans at the edges, and central vignettes of Puṣkara lake, Prayāga confluence, Prabhāsa seashore shrine, and Naimiṣa forest hermitage—each emitting protective light toward a devotee.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized cosmographic layout with four ocean borders, central panels for Pushkara lake with lotus, Prayaga sangam with three rivers, Prabhasa coastal shrine, Naimisha forest with sages, warm earthy palette and temple icon framing.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, segmented composition with gold-embossed frames around each tīrtha vignette, shimmering ocean borders, devotee in añjali receiving blessings, rich reds and greens with heavy gold work.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean illustrative ‘pilgrimage chart’ with labeled tīrthas, gentle shading, emphasis on recognizability of river confluence and forest āśrama, calm devotional tone.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, panoramic landscape with multiple sacred sites in one frame, fine water rendering for sangam and sea, small figures of pilgrims and sages, calligraphic labels for each tīrtha."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पुष्करश् च = पुष्करः + च (विसर्ग-सन्धि); प्रयागश् च = प्रयागः + च; हिरण्मयश्तथेति = हिरण्मयः + तथा + इति (विसर्ग-सन्धि + स्वर-सन्धि); पाठे वर्ण-निर्देश (घ, ङ, ज, छ) अव्ययवत् ग्रहणम्।
Related Themes: Agni Purana tīrtha-mahātmya passages (various); Agni Purana 219 (śānti/tīrtha lists)
FAQs
It teaches a protective smaraṇa (recollection/invocation) of major waters (the four oceans) and renowned tīrthas, functioning as a concise ritual formula for auspicious protection and purification through sacred-place remembrance.
By cataloging prominent tīrthas and framing them as spiritually efficacious protectors, it adds sacred geography and pilgrimage practice to the Agni Purana’s wide-ranging compendium of ritual, dharma, and devotional disciplines.
Remembering and invoking oceans and tīrthas is presented as a purifier and protector, implying the accrual of puṇya (merit) and the removal of sin/obstacles through association with sanctified waters and holy sites.