Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 14
Chapter 23 — पूजाविधिकथनम्
The Account of the Rules of Worship
स्नानं वस्त्रोपवीतञ्च भूषणं गन्धपुष्पकं धूपदीपनैर् वेद्यानि पुण्डरीकाक्षविद्यया
snānaṃ vastropavītañca bhūṣaṇaṃ gandhapuṣpakaṃ dhūpadīpanair vedyāni puṇḍarīkākṣavidyayā
Омовение, одежды и священный шнур (упавита), украшения, благовония и цветы, а также фимиам и светильники — таковы подношения, которые следует приносить согласно Puṇḍarīkākṣa‑vidyā (знанию/мантрической системе Лотосоокого Владыки).
Lord Agni (narrating to sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional dialogue framework)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Upacāra list aligned to Puṇḍarīkākṣa-vidyā (Vishnu-mantra system): prepare self and offerings—snāna, vastra, upavīta, ornaments, gandha, puṣpa, dhūpa, dīpa—before/while reciting the vidyā.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Puṇḍarīkākṣa-vidyā upacāras (bath, dress, fragrance, lamp, etc.)","lookup_keywords":["pundarikaksha-vidya","upachara","snana","dhupa-dipa","gandha-pushpa"],"quick_summary":"For Vishnu worship under the Puṇḍarīkākṣa-vidyā, offer bodily purification and adornment items plus fragrance, flowers, incense, and lamp—standardizing pūjā materials and sequence."}
Concept: External order (cleanliness, offerings) supports internal mantra-vidyā; devotion is enacted through disciplined sensory offerings (gandha, puṣpa, dhūpa, dīpa).
Application: Keep a fixed pūjā kit; begin with personal cleanliness and upavīta/vastra correctness, then proceed to sensory offerings while maintaining mantra continuity.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Vishnu mantra/vidya and worship procedure)
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A Vishnu pūjā setup: the worshipper freshly bathed, wearing clean garments and upavīta, arranging ornaments, sandal paste, flowers, incense, and a lit lamp before an image/maṇḍala of lotus-eyed Vishnu, with mantra text indicated as Puṇḍarīkākṣa-vidyā.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: lotus-eyed Vishnu presence with conch/discus motifs, priest in white cloth and sacred thread, offerings of gandha and flowers, curling incense smoke, oil lamp glow","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: Vishnu with large lotus-like eyes, heavy gold work on ornaments, bright lamp flames, thick garlands, embossed incense holder, rich temple setting","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: neat instructional still-life of pūjā items labeled snāna/vastra/upavīta/gandha/puṣpa/dhūpa/dīpa, with a small Vishnu icon at top, fine detailing","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: a devotee in a quiet chamber, arranging flowers and lamp before a Vishnu painting, delicate smoke trails, refined textiles and vessels"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Madhyamavati","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वस्त्रोपवीतम् = वस्त्र + उपवीतम्; उपवीतञ्च = उपवीतम् + च; गन्धपुष्पकम् = गन्ध + पुष्पकम्; धूपदीपनैः = धूप + दीपनैः; पुण्डरीकाक्षविद्यया = पुण्डरीकाक्ष + विद्यया.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 23 (Vishnu pūjā materials; vidyā-based worship)
FAQs
It enumerates the standard upacāras (ritual offerings/services)—snāna, vastra-upavīta, bhūṣaṇa, gandha-puṣpa, dhūpa and dīpa—stating they should be offered according to the Puṇḍarīkākṣa-vidyā (Vishnu mantra-based ritual method).
Alongside cosmology and dharma, the Agni Purana preserves practical liturgical checklists for worship—codifying ritual materials and procedure as a technical manual for daily/temple devotion.
By offering purified, prescribed upacāras with mantra-vidyā, the worship becomes ritually complete and merit-bearing (puṇya), supporting purification (śuddhi) and devotional alignment with the deity.