Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 9
Chapter 172 — “Expiations beginning with the Secret
Rites)” (Rahasya-ādi-prāyaścitta
नृसिंहानन्त गोविन्द भूतभवन केशव विष्णवे विष्णवे इति ज , ञ च दुरुक्तं दुष्कृतं ध्यातं शमयाघन्नमो ऽस्तु ते
nṛsiṃhānanta govinda bhūtabhavana keśava viṣṇave viṣṇave iti ja , ña ca duruktaṃ duṣkṛtaṃ dhyātaṃ śamayāghannamo 'stu te
Ó Nṛsiṃha, Ananta, Govinda, Bhūta-bhavana, Keśava—eu me prostro a Viṣṇu, a Viṣṇu. Pela enunciação das sílabas “ja” e “ña”, juntamente com estes nomes, apazigua os pecados nascidos de palavras mal ditas, de más ações e até de pensamentos pecaminosos. Homenagem a Ti.
Lord Agni (narrating the ritual/recitation to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Protective/expiatory recitation invoking Nṛsiṃha and Viṣṇu-nāmas to pacify sins of speech, action, and thought; used in prāyaścitta contexts and daily safeguarding.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Pāpa-śamana japa with Nṛsiṃha–Ananta–Govinda nāmas and syllables 'ja'/'ña'","lookup_keywords":["Nṛsiṃha","pāpa-śamana","durukta","duṣkṛta","ja ña"],"quick_summary":"Atonement formula: recite specific Viṣṇu epithets (and indicated syllables) to calm faults arising from harsh speech, wrongful deeds, and sinful ideation."}
Alamkara Type: Nāma-samuccaya (catalog of epithets) with repetition (Viṣṇave Viṣṇave)
Concept: Tri-karaṇa-śuddhi (purification of body–speech–mind) via nāma-japa and surrender to the protector (Nṛsiṃha).
Application: Adopt mindful speech (vāg-yama), ethical action, and thought-discipline; use japa as corrective practice after lapses.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Stotra-mantra (Vaishnava expiation and protective recitation)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A devotee recites protective names of Viṣṇu, invoking fierce Nṛsiṃha to quell sins of speech, deed, and thought; the syllables 'ja' and 'ña' appear as sacred letters.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: Ugra Nṛsiṃha with radiant halo beside serene Viṣṇu, devotee chanting with palm-leaf manuscript, sacred akṣaras 'ja' 'ña' stylized in the border, temple lamp glow, rich earthy palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: Nṛsiṃha as central protective deity with gold foil aura, flanked by Viṣṇu symbols, devotee in añjali, embossed gold letters 'ja' 'ña' near the base, ornate arch frame.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: instructional composition—devotee seated in japa posture, rosary, clear depiction of akṣaras 'ja' and 'ña' as calligraphic elements, Nṛsiṃha appearing in a protective vision above.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: intimate chamber scene of recitation, delicate script of 'Viṣṇave Viṣṇave', visionary Nṛsiṃha in a clouded aureole, fine textiles and floral margins."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: नमोऽस्तु = नमः + अस्तु. नृसिंहानन्त = नृसिंह + आनन्त (समास/सन्धि). ‘ज, ञ’ पाठे बीजाक्षर/वर्ण-उच्चारणरूपेण; मूलपाठभेद सम्भव. ‘अघन्’ इति ‘अघम्’ (पापम्) इत्यस्य रूप/पाठभेदः।
Related Themes: Agni Purana 172 (prāyaścitta/nāma-japa sequence)
FAQs
It teaches a practical expiatory japa: invoking specific Viṣṇu epithets and the varṇa/bīja syllables “ja” and “ña” to pacify sins generated through speech, action, and even mental intention.
Alongside theology, it preserves applied ritual technology—name-recitation, syllabic (varṇa/bīja) usage, and graded purification of faults (vācika, kāyika, mānasika)—showing the Purana’s coverage of both doctrine and practice.
It frames devotion as corrective karma: sincere remembrance of Viṣṇu is presented as capable of calming demerit arising from harmful speech, wrongful conduct, and impure thought, emphasizing inner purification as well as outward restraint.