Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 4
Chapter 23 — पूजाविधिकथनम्
The Account of the Rules of Worship
अधोर्ध्वतिर्यग्गाभिस्तु ज्वालाभिः कल्मषं दहेत् शशाङ्काकृतिवद्ध्यायेदम्बरस्थं सुधाम्बुभिः
adhordhvatiryaggābhistu jvālābhiḥ kalmaṣaṃ dahet śaśāṅkākṛtivaddhyāyedambarasthaṃ sudhāmbubhiḥ
Пламенами, распространяющимися вниз, вверх и в стороны, следует сжечь нечистоту. Затем надлежит созерцать образ, подобный луне, пребывающий в небесном пространстве и изливающий струи нектарной воды (амриты).
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Yoga","practical_application":"Inner purification sequence: burn impurities with omnidirectional inner flames (agni-bhavana), then cool and stabilize with moon-form nectar visualization (soma-bhavana).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Agni-dahana and Soma-amrita dhyana for antar-shuddhi","lookup_keywords":["agni-bhavana","soma-dhyana","amrita","kalmasa-dahana","moon-form"],"quick_summary":"First visualize flames consuming impurity in all directions; then visualize a moon-like form in the inner sky showering nectar—balancing heat with cooling clarity."}
Concept: Purification is twofold: removal (dahana) and replenishment (amrita); disciplined imagination is used as a yogic instrument.
Application: When practicing intense inner heat (tapas-like focus), follow with cooling, soothing visualization to prevent agitation and to stabilize attention for worship.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Yoga-vidhi (Dhyana, internal purification through Agni and Soma imagery)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Inner flames radiate in all directions burning dark impurities; above, a moon-disc in the inner sky releases streams of nectar-like droplets.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, dramatic tri-directional flames around a central figure, then a large white moon-disc overhead pouring pearl-like amrita, high contrast sacred palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, gold flames encircling the lower body, silver-white moon with gold embossing, amrita droplets rendered as pearls, ornate frame","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, stepwise panel: (1) flames down/up/side, (2) moon-form in inner sky, (3) nectar streams; clean lines and didactic clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, allegorical inner landscape: flames as stylized arabesques, moon in a pale sky, fine dotted nectar rain, delicate shading"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Malkauns","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: adhordhvatiryaggābhistu = adhaḥ + ūrdhva + tiryak + gābhiḥ + tu; śaśāṅkākṛtivad = śaśāṅka-ākṛti-vat; dhyāyedambarasthaṃ = dhyāyet + ambara-stham; sudhāmbubhiḥ = sudhā-ambubhiḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 23 (nectar flow into nadis in next verse)
FAQs
It prescribes a two-stage inner practice: first, a visualization of purifying flames expanding in all directions to burn impurities (kalmaṣa), and second, a cooling lunar (śaśāṅka) contemplation associated with nectar-like flow (sudhāmbu), balancing heat and cooling in meditative purification.
Alongside external rites, the Agni Purāṇa also records internalized ritual-yoga methods—visualizations using Agni (fire) and Soma/Chandra (nectar, moon)—showing that its scope includes subtle contemplative technologies, not only mythology or temple procedure.
The verse frames purification as the removal of karmic “stains” (kalmaṣa) through inner fire, followed by restoration and sanctification through lunar-nectar imagery—signifying cleansing, pacification, and spiritual clarity.