Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 13
Worship by Limb-Syllables
Aṅgākṣara-arcana
पाद्यार्घ्याचमनीयञ्च पीतवस्त्रविभूषणं एतत् पञ्चोपचारञ्च सर्वं मूलेन दीयते
pādyārghyācamanīyañca pītavastravibhūṣaṇaṃ etat pañcopacārañca sarvaṃ mūlena dīyate
पाद्यार्घ्याचमनीयञ्च पीतवस्त्रविभूषणम्। एतत् पञ्चोपचारञ्च सर्वं मूलेन दीयते॥
Lord Agni (in dialogue tradition, instructing sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Standardize pañcopacāra offerings (pādya, arghya, ācamanīya, cloth, ornaments) and ensure each is offered with the mūla-mantra for mantra-siddha worship.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Pañcopacāra offerings with mūla-mantra","lookup_keywords":["pañcopacāra","pādya","arghya","ācamanīya","mūla-mantra"],"quick_summary":"Offer pādya, arghya, ācamanīya, yellow cloth, ornaments, and the full pañcopacāra set, each accompanied by the deity’s root-mantra."}
Concept: External offerings become spiritually efficacious when yoked to mantra (mūla) and orderly service (upacāra).
Application: During pūjā, avoid ‘silent’ offering: recite the mūla-mantra at each upacāra to maintain continuity of attention and ritual validity.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Mantra-mula offerings and pañcopacāra worship)
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A pūjā tray with vessels labeled pādya, arghya, ācamanīya; folded yellow cloth and ornaments placed neatly; priest offers each item while chanting the mūla-mantra.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, close-up of ritual vessels and offerings on a wooden altar, warm lamp-light, priest’s hands in offering gesture, minimal background, traditional border motifs","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, richly decorated pūjā setup with gold accents on vessels and ornaments, bright yellow cloth prominent, deity’s presence implied by haloed sanctum backdrop","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional still-life of pañcopacāra items arranged symmetrically, fine linework, labels in Devanagari, calm palette","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed rendering of metal vessels and textiles, priest chanting beside a small shrine, delicate floral margins, calligraphic caption for mūla-mantra offering"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: pādyārghyācamanīyañca resolved as pādya + arghya + ācamanīyam + ca; pañcopacārañca resolved as pañca-upacāram + ca.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 302.12; Agni Purana 302.15
FAQs
It prescribes that standard worship offerings—pādya, arghya, ācamanīya, cloth, ornaments, and the pañcopacāra set—should be offered while reciting (or empowered by) the deity’s mūla-mantra.
By giving precise, practice-ready instructions for pūjā logistics (what to offer and how to sanctify it via mantra), it exemplifies the Agni Purana’s manual-like coverage of ritual science alongside its many other disciplines.
Offering upacāras with the mūla-mantra is presented as a way to properly consecrate the act of worship, increasing purity (śuddhi) and devotional efficacy (phala) through correct mantra-linked ritual performance.