Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 2
Chapter 52: देवीप्रतिमालक्षणं (Devī-pratimā-lakṣaṇa) — Characteristics of Goddess Images
पिङ्गाक्षी च क्षया क्षेमा इला लीलालया तथा लोला लक्ता बलाकेशी लालसा विमला पुनः
piṅgākṣī ca kṣayā kṣemā ilā līlālayā tathā lolā laktā balākeśī lālasā vimalā punaḥ
E (ela é) Pingākṣī, Kṣayā, Kṣemā, Ilā, Līlālayā; do mesmo modo Lolā, Laktā, Balākeśī, Lālasā e, novamente, Vimalā.
Lord Agni (narrating to sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s dialogic frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Stotra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Nāma-japa and arcana: reciting these epithets as a name-list (nāma-mālā) for invoking specific Devī aspects in worship, protection, and mental dhyāna.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Devī-nāma: Pingākṣī–Vimalā (epithet cluster)","lookup_keywords":["pingākṣī","kṣemā","ilā","līlālayā","vimalā"],"quick_summary":"A compact list of Devī epithets suitable for japa and pūjā; emphasizes auspiciousness (kṣemā), purity (vimalā), and playful divine immanence (līlālayā)."}
Alamkara Type: Anuprāsa (light alliteration) and Nāma-mālā style
Concept: Nāma as upāsanā: repeated epithets cultivate corresponding guṇas—kṣema (well-being), vimala (inner purity), līlā (seeing the world as divine play).
Application: Use as a short daily japa sequence; pair with dhyāna on golden-eyed radiance and inner cleanliness before pūjā or meditation.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Devi-nama-stotra (Goddess epithets used in worship and japa)
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: śṛṅgāra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A garland-like sequence of Devī names written on a scroll; Devī depicted with golden/tawny eyes (Pingākṣī) and a serene, pure aura (Vimalā), with attendants offering flowers for japa.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Devī bust with large pingala eyes, serene smile, white lotus and jasmine offerings, a scroll bearing the names Pingākṣī Kṣemā Ilā Līlālayā Vimalā, warm lamp glow, minimal background","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, half-length Devī with gold-embossed ornaments, prominent golden eyes, bright halo, name-scroll in Devanāgarī, heavy floral garlands, rich gold work emphasizing purity (Vimalā)","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean instructional namāvalī panel: each epithet in a cartouche around Devī portrait; subtle color coding for meanings (kṣema, vimala), fine linework and soft shading","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, a devotee reciting from a small booklet of names before a painted Devī icon; delicate script of epithets on the page; refined palette and detailed textiles"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: piṅgākṣī → piṅga-akṣī; līlālayā treated as a compound name (līlā + layā).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 52 (Devī-nāma lists continuing)
FAQs
It provides a sequence of Devi-epithets intended for nāma-japa (name-recitation) and stotra-style worship, where each name functions as a mantra-like invocation of a specific divine attribute.
Alongside governance, medicine, and arts, the Agni Purana preserves practical liturgical material—name-lists and worship vocabulary—used for daily devotion, temple recitation, and mantra-oriented practice.
Reciting these names is traditionally held to purify speech and mind, invoke the Goddess’s protection (kṣema), and remove impurity (vimala), aligning the devotee with auspiciousness and inner steadiness.