Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 21
Chapter 242 — पुरुषलक्षणं
Purusha-Lakshana): Marks of a Man (Physiognomy
पाणिपादं मुखं ग्रीवा श्रवणे हृदयं शिरः ललाटमुदरं पृष्ठं वृहन्तः पूजिता दश
pāṇipādaṃ mukhaṃ grīvā śravaṇe hṛdayaṃ śiraḥ lalāṭamudaraṃ pṛṣṭhaṃ vṛhantaḥ pūjitā daśa
ପୂଜ୍ୟ ଦଶ ଅଙ୍ଗ—ହାତ ଓ ପାଦ, ମୁଖ, ଗ୍ରୀବା, କାନ, ହୃଦୟ, ଶିର, ଲଲାଟ, ଉଦର, ପୃଷ୍ଠ ଏବଂ ବୃହନ୍ତ (ବକ୍ଷ/ସ୍କନ୍ଧ ଅଞ୍ଚଳ)।
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in ritual procedure)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Devatā-aṅga-nyāsa and limb-wise worship mapping for ritual installation (nyāsa) and pūjā sequencing.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Daśāṅga-pūjā (ten bodily loci for worship/nyāsa)","lookup_keywords":["aṅga-nyāsa","daśāṅga","pūjā-vidhi","deha-nyāsa","devatā-aṅga"],"quick_summary":"Enumerates ten bodily loci to be ritually worshipped/installed in nyāsa. Useful as a checklist for pūjā where the deity is invoked into specific body-parts."}
Concept: Deha as a ritual field (kṣetra) for devatā-āveśa through ordered limb-worship.
Application: Perform nyāsa/pūjā by touching/mentally offering to each listed locus in sequence, maintaining ekāgratā and śuddhi.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Devatā-aṅga-nyāsa and ritual worship procedure)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sādhaka seated before a small altar, performing aṅga-nyāsa—touching hands, feet, face, neck, ears, heart, head, forehead, belly, and back—while offerings and a lamp burn nearby.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat vibrant colors, sādhaka in white dhoti performing aṅga-nyāsa before a brass nilavilakku and small shrine, clear depiction of touching each body-part, sacred calm atmosphere.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold leaf highlights, central seated worshipper with ornate altar, gold haloed deity icon in background, emphasis on ritual gestures (mudrā/nyāsa) and the ten loci indicated with subtle gold accents.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, delicate linework, instructional composition showing sequential nyāsa touches on the body with small Sanskrit labels for each aṅga, minimal background, soft palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly interior adapted as a ritual chamber, fine detailing of altar objects (incense, lamp, flowers), the practitioner touching limbs in sequence, marginal notes indicating the ten aṅgas."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: pāṇipādaṃ = pāṇi+pādam (समाहार-द्वन्द्व). lalāṭamudaram = lalāṭam+udaram (सन्धि-विच्छेद).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 242 (pūjā-vidhi context); Agni Purana sections on nyāsa, kara-nyāsa, aṅga-nyāsa (adjacent verses)
FAQs
It lists the standard set of ten bodily loci used for aṅga-pūjā/nyāsa—specific limbs and regions that are ritually honoured or assigned mantras during worship.
Beyond mythology, the Agni Purana preserves practical liturgical manuals; this verse is a compact procedural checklist for limb-based worship used in domestic and temple ritual systems.
By sanctifying the body through aṅga-pūjā, the practitioner treats the body as a ritual seat of divinity, supporting purity (śuddhi), focused devotion, and merit (puṇya) within the worship sequence.