Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 27
Chapter 303: Mantras for Worship Beginning with the Five-syllable (Pañcākṣara) — पञ्चाक्षरादिपूजामन्त्राः
इष्टाङ्गानि यथान्यायमनन्तं सूक्ष्ममर्चयेत् सिद्धेश्वरं त्वेकनेत्रं पूर्वादौ दिश पूजयेत्
iṣṭāṅgāni yathānyāyamanantaṃ sūkṣmamarcayet siddheśvaraṃ tvekanetraṃ pūrvādau diśa pūjayet
ਵਿਧੀ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਇੱਛਿਤ ਅੰਗਾਂ/ਉਪਚਾਰਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਅਨੰਤ ਦੀ ਸੁਖਮ ਅਰਚਨਾ ਕਰਨੀ ਚਾਹੀਦੀ ਹੈ। ਅਤੇ ਇਕ ਨੇਤਰ ਵਾਲੇ ਸਿੱਧੇਸ਼ਵਰ ਦੀ, ਪੂਰਬ ਆਦਿ ਦਿਸ਼ਾਵਾਂ ਸਮੇਤ, ਪੂਜਾ ਕਰਨੀ ਚਾਹੀਦੀ ਹੈ।
Lord Agni (teaching to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional dialogue framework)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Stepwise pūjā procedure: aṅga-upacāra worship, subtle (sūkṣma) worship of Ananta, and dik-pūjā with Siddheśvara (ekanetra) for ritual completeness and protection.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Pūjā-vidhi: Iṣṭāṅga-upacāra, Sūkṣmārcana of Ananta, Dik-pūjā with Siddheśvara","lookup_keywords":["iṣṭāṅga pūjā","sūkṣmārcana","Ananta worship","Siddheśvara ekanetra","dik-pūjā east onward"],"quick_summary":"Perform worship with prescribed ritual limbs/components, add an internal/subtle offering to Ananta, then honor Siddheśvara and the directions starting from the East to seal the rite."}
Concept: Outer ritual (aṅga/upacāra) is completed by inner subtle worship (sūkṣma) and spatial sacralization (dik-pūjā).
Application: Design a daily/occasional pūjā sequence that integrates internal offering and boundary-guarding through directional worship.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Tantric/Mantra ritual procedure; Dik-puja and Devata-archana)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A priest at a maṇḍala/altar performs upacāras, then closes eyes for subtle Ananta worship, then offers to the directions starting from the East with Siddheśvara (one-eyed) presiding.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, temple interior with a square maṇḍala, priest offering flowers/incense, subtle Ananta indicated as coiled cosmic serpent motif in aura, eight directions marked, Siddheśvara one-eyed icon in the center.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, richly ornamented altar scene with gold highlights, central Siddheśvara ekanetra, directional deities as small medallions around, offerings arranged symmetrically.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional pūjā sequence tableau: labeled steps (iṣṭāṅga, sūkṣma, dik), clean composition, clear east-first directional arrows around the altar.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined ritual court scene with a yogin-priest, geometric floor maṇḍala, subtle serpent symbolism for Ananta, compass-like directional markers, delicate detailing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: yathānyāyam = yathā nyāyam. sūkṣmamarcayet = sūkṣmam arcayet. tvekanetrām = tu ekanetram. diśa pūjayet interpreted as diśaḥ (acc. pl.) pūjayet (epic contraction).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 303 (pūjā-vidhi and dik-pūjā subsections)
FAQs
It teaches a structured pūjā sequence: perform arcana according to prescribed rules using the required ritual “limbs” (iṣṭāṅgāni), include subtle/mental worship of Ananta, and complete the rite with dik-pūjā (honoring the directions) starting from the East while worshipping Siddheśvara (Ekanetra).
It exemplifies the Agni Purana’s practical ritual manual character by codifying procedural details—arcana methodology, subtle (internal) worship, and directional worship—showing how the text spans not only mythology but also applied liturgy and tantric-ritual technology.
Following yathā-nyāya worship and dik-pūjā is traditionally held to remove ritual defects (doṣa), stabilize the rite through cosmic alignment (quarters), and accrue merit (puṇya) through disciplined, internally focused devotion (sūkṣma-arcana).