Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 18
Māheśvara-snāna: Lakṣa/Koṭi-homa, Protective Baths, Unguents, and Graha-Śānti
चन्दनागुरुकर्पूरमृगदर्पैः सकुङ्कुमैः पञ्चानुलेपनं विष्णोः सर्वकामफलप्रदं
candanāgurukarpūramṛgadarpaiḥ sakuṅkumaiḥ pañcānulepanaṃ viṣṇoḥ sarvakāmaphalapradaṃ
ਚੰਦਨ, ਅਗਰੂ, ਕਪੂਰ, ਕਸਤੂਰੀ ਅਤੇ ਕੇਸਰ ਨਾਲ ਬਣਿਆ ਵਿਸ਼ਨੂ ਦਾ ਪੰਚ-ਅਨੁਲੇਪਨ ਸਭ ਇੱਛਾਵਾਂ ਦੇ ਫਲ ਦੇਣ ਵਾਲਾ ਹੈ।
Lord Agni (in instruction to Vasiṣṭha, the standard Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Ritual anointment (anulepana) in Vaiṣṇava pūjā using a five-ingredient fragrant paste to seek desired boons.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Pañcānulepana for Viṣṇu in Pūjā","lookup_keywords":["panchanulepana","Vishnu puja","chandana aguru karpura","mrigadarpa kunkuma"],"quick_summary":"A fivefold unguent—sandalwood, agaru, camphor, musk, saffron—is prescribed for anointing Viṣṇu, said to grant fulfillment of desires."}
Concept: Upacāra-sevā: offering fragrance and cooling unguents to the deity as a means of cultivating devotion and aligning desires with dharma.
Application: In daily/occasional worship, prepare a clean five-ingredient paste and offer with mantra and purity rules, treating it as service rather than mere petition.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Vaishnava worship and ritual anointments)
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A Vaiṣṇava shrine scene: a priest offers pañcānulepana paste to a Viṣṇu mūrti, with conch, lamp, flowers, and incense; five fragrant ingredients displayed.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Viṣṇu in serene stance within sanctum; priest applying sandal paste; bowls of agaru, camphor, musk, saffron; deep reds/ochres, stylized lotus motifs.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Viṣṇu richly adorned with gold; priest offering fivefold unguent in ornate tray; heavy gold leaf on jewelry and arch; bright saffron highlights.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear depiction of five ingredients arranged in sequence; priest performing upacāra with measured gestures; soft shading, instructional clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed temple interior with attendants; tray of perfumes and saffron; careful rendering of lamp flame and textiles; reverent posture of worshipper."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Madhyamavati","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चन्दनागुरुकर्पूरमृगदर्पैः = चन्दन+अगुरु+कर्पूर+मृगदर्पैः; पञ्चानुलेपनं = पञ्च + अनुलेपनम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 266 (Pūjā-vidhi adjacent to anulepana)
FAQs
It prescribes a specific pañcānulepana (five-ingredient fragrant unguent) for Viṣṇu worship—sandalwood, agaru, camphor, musk, and saffron—used as a formal upacāra (offering) in pūjā.
Beyond theology, it records practical liturgical procedure—exact materials for devotional anointing—showing the Agni Purāṇa’s catalog-like coverage of temple/household ritual techniques alongside other sciences.
Offering the prescribed fivefold unguent to Viṣṇu is said to be sarvakāmaphalaprada—merit-producing and conducive to the fulfillment of legitimate desires through disciplined devotional practice.