Agni Purana — Kosha, Shloka 12
Chapter 367 — नित्यनैमीत्तिकप्राकृतप्रलयाः
The Nitya, Naimittika, and Prākṛta Dissolutions
सप्तर्षिस्थानमाक्रम्य स्थिते ऽम्भसि शतं मरुत् मुखनिश्वासतो विष्णोर्नाशं नयति तान्घनान्
saptarṣisthānamākramya sthite 'mbhasi śataṃ marut mukhaniśvāsato viṣṇornāśaṃ nayati tānghanān
सप्तर्षिस्थानमाक्रम्य शतेऽम्भसि स्थिते। विष्णोर्मुखनिश्वासजाः शतं मरुतस्तान् घनान् नाशं नयन्ति॥
Lord Agni (narrating within the Agni Purana’s discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Cosmology","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Maps pralaya dynamics onto astral geography (Saptarṣi region) and divine agency (Maruts from Viṣṇu’s breath), useful for Purāṇic cosmography teaching and ritual imagination of cosmic order.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Saptarṣi-mandala waters and Maruts destroying pralaya-clouds","lookup_keywords":["saptarṣi-sthāna","marut","viṣṇu-niśvāsa","ghana-nāśa","pralaya-jala"],"quick_summary":"When pralaya-waters reach the Saptarṣi region, Maruts born of Viṣṇu’s exhalation disperse and destroy the clouds. The verse links meteorology, astral zones, and divine breath as regulating forces."}
Alamkara Type: Rūpaka
Concept: Prāṇa/niśvāsa as cosmic causality: divine breath externalizes as regulating winds (Maruts) that dissolve formations (clouds).
Application: Meditative analogy: as breath governs inner states, divine breath governs cosmic states—supporting prāṇāyāma contemplation and theism-inflected cosmology.
Khanda Section: Cosmology & Astral Geography (Lokas, Nakshatras, Maruts, Saptarshi-mandala)
Primary Rasa: Adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: Vīra
Type: Mountain
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Cosmic waters rise into the starry Saptarṣi region; from Viṣṇu’s exhalation emerge a hundred Maruts as luminous wind-beings who tear apart and dissipate the dense clouds.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: Viṣṇu in calm profile exhaling stylized white wind-streams that become Maruts; above, the Saptarṣi constellation rendered as golden star cluster; clouds shredded into spirals over dark cosmic waters","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: central Viṣṇu with subtle gold embossing on breath-streams; Maruts as small dynamic figures with gold accents; constellation as jeweled motif; ornate border emphasizing celestial geography","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: diagrammatic cosmography—Saptarṣi-mandala labeled, waters rising; Maruts shown as wind-arrows emanating from Viṣṇu’s mouth; fine lines and soft colors for clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: night-sky with precise stars, rising waters like a silver sea; Viṣṇu seated/hovering exhaling; Maruts as swift airborne figures dispersing clouds with swirling motion"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Megh Malhar","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सप्तर्षिस्थानमाक्रम्य → सप्तर्षिस्थानम् + आक्रम्य; स्थिते ऽम्भसि → स्थिते + अम्भसि; विष्णोर्नाशं → विष्णोः + नाशम्; तान्घनान् → तान् + घनान्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 367.11 (clouds and rains); Agni Purana 367.13 (Hari absorbing vāyu)
FAQs
It conveys Puranic meteorology/astral geography: cloud-formation and dispersal are linked to the Saptarshi region and the action of the Maruts (storm-winds), mythically sourced from Viṣṇu’s breath.
Beyond ritual topics, the Agni Purana catalogs cosmology and observable natural processes (winds, clouds, waters) using a theological model—showing its scope as a compendium of astronomy-like mapping and weather lore.
It frames natural regulation as divine governance: winds and rains operate under Viṣṇu’s cosmic agency, encouraging a devotional view that order in nature reflects dharma and the sustaining power of the divine.