Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 12
Mantras for Worship Beginning with the Five-Syllabled
Mantra) — Concluding Colophon (Chapter 304 end
गोपीश्वरञ्च सिन्ध्वव्धौ माहेन्द्रे चाच्युतं विटुः सहाद्रौ देवदेवेशं वैकुण्ठं मागधे वने
gopīśvarañca sindhvavdhau māhendre cācyutaṃ viṭuḥ sahādrau devadeveśaṃ vaikuṇṭhaṃ māgadhe vane
ਸਿੰਧੁ ਸਮੁੰਦਰ ਵਿੱਚ ਉਹਨੂੰ ਗੋਪੀਸ਼ਵਰ ਜਾਣਦੇ ਹਨ; ਮਾਹੇਂਦ੍ਰ ਪਹਾੜ ਉੱਤੇ ਅਚ੍ਯੁਤ। ਸਹਿਆਦ੍ਰੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਦੇਵਦੇਵੇਸ਼, ਅਤੇ ਮਗਧ ਦੇ ਜੰਗਲ ਵਿੱਚ ਵੈਕੁੰਠ ਰੂਪ ਵਿੱਚ ਜਾਣਦੇ ਹਨ।
Lord Agni (narrating the Agni Purana’s sacred-name and sacred-place tradition to Vashistha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Stotra","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"A kṣetra-index for chanting: invoke the Lord by epithet aligned to ocean/mountain/forest settings during pūjā or pilgrimage narration.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Kṣetra-smarana: Gopīśvara, Acyuta, Devadeveśa, Vaikuṇṭha by place","lookup_keywords":["Sindhu-samudra","Māhendra-parvata","Sahyādri","Magadha-vana","Acyuta"],"quick_summary":"Provides a fourfold mapping of divine epithets to major geographic features; useful as a remembrance litany connecting landscape to theology."}
Concept: Sarvatra-īśvara-buddhi: training the mind to see the Lord’s presence across diverse terrains via nāma-smṛti.
Application: While traveling or hearing place-names, immediately pair them with the epithet to maintain uninterrupted remembrance (smaraṇa-santati).
Khanda Section: Tirtha-Mahatmya / Stotra-Nama-Smarana (Sacred geography and divine epithets)
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Ocean/Mountain/Mountain-range/Forest
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A panoramic sacred map: ocean waves labeled Sindhu with Gopīśvara, a tall peak labeled Māhendra with Acyuta, the Sahyādri range with Devadeveśa, and a dense Magadha forest with Vaikuṇṭha presence.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural panorama with stylized ocean and mountains, four deity vignettes embedded in landscape, ornate floral borders, saturated pigments, Vaikuṇṭha Viṣṇu with conch-disc prominent.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore gold: central Vaikuṇṭha Viṣṇu with gold halo, surrounding circular medallions showing ocean (Gopīśvara), Māhendra peak (Acyuta), Sahya range (Devadeveśa), jeweled embellishments and embossed gold work.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, cartographic-didactic: neat labeled terrain bands (ocean, peak, range, forest) with small deity icons and epithets in calligraphic script, fine outlines and muted palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature landscape with realistic waves, rocky mountains, and forest canopy; small divine figures appear subtly in each terrain, detailed naturalism and architectural touches near Magadha."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Shuddha Sarang","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: गोपीश्वरञ्च = गोपीश्वरम् + च. सिन्ध्वव्धौ read as सिन्धु-अब्धौ (t/dh sandhi in transmission). चाच्युतम् = च + अच्युतम्. सहाद्रौ treated as अव्ययीभाव (सह + अद्रौ).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 304 (tīrtha-nāma smaraṇa series)
FAQs
It teaches nāma-smaraṇa tied to kṣetra (place): Vishnu is remembered by specific epithets associated with particular sacred regions, a practical bhakti-method used in pilgrimage recitation and daily remembrance.
By cataloging a sacred-geographic index—linking divine forms/names to mountains, oceans, and forests—it functions like a reference map for pilgrimage culture, regional worship, and liturgical naming traditions.
Remembering Vishnu through place-linked names is presented as a purifying act that strengthens devotion and accrues religious merit (puṇya) through mindful recollection of sacred abodes and divine attributes.