Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 5
Trailokya-mohinī Śrī-Lakṣmī-ādi-pūjā and Durgā-yoga
Protective and Siddhi Rites
बिल्वलक्षहुता लक्ष्मीर्वित्तवृद्धिश् च जायते शक्रवेश्म चतुर्द्वारं हृदये चिन्तयेदथ
bilvalakṣahutā lakṣmīrvittavṛddhiś ca jāyate śakraveśma caturdvāraṃ hṛdaye cintayedatha
बिल्वैर्लक्षहुतैः कृतैर्लक्ष्मीः प्रादुर्भवति, वित्तवृद्धिश्च जायते। ततः शक्रवेश्म चतुर्द्वारं हृदये चिन्तयेत्॥
Lord Agni (in the Agni Purana dialogue, instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Lakṣmī-sādhana combining lakṣa-homa with bilva offerings and an inner dhyāna of a four-gated celestial mansion to stabilize visualization and siddhi-intent.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Bilva-lakṣa-homa and Śakra-veśma (four-gated) hṛd-dhyāna for Lakṣmī-vṛddhi","lookup_keywords":["bilva-homa","lakṣa-huti","Lakṣmī-sādhana","Śakra-veśma","caturdvāra-dhyāna"],"quick_summary":"Perform a hundred-thousand bilva oblations to invoke prosperity, then meditate in the heart on Indra’s four-gated mansion as a structured visualization support for the rite."}
Concept: Outer ritual action (homa) is paired with inner visualization (hṛd-dhyāna) to concentrate mind and align intention with śrī.
Application: Use a stable, symmetric mental image (four gates) as a concentration device after prolonged repetitive offering practice.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Mantra-tantra (Lakshmi-sadhana, Homa and Dhyana practices)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: śānta
Type: Cosmic realm
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A homa with bilva offerings counted to a lakṣa; afterward the sādhaka sits in meditation, visualizing within the heart a luminous four-gated palace of Indra, radiating prosperity.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, bilva leaves offered into fire, then seated yogic figure with a glowing caturdvāra palace motif at the chest, deep reds/ochres, stylized aura lines, sacred geometry gates.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, lavish homa scene with gold accents on flames and bilva, then central meditating figure with embossed golden four-gated palace icon at heart, ornate borders, śrī symbols.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, didactic two-panel composition: left—bilva-homa with count beads; right—heart-centered visualization of a four-gated mansion, clean lines and soft gradients.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined interior: ritual fire with bilva offerings, then contemplative ascetic; translucent depiction of a four-gated palace superimposed over the chest, intricate architectural detailing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Dhyāna (Dhanyāsi or similar meditative raga)","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: लक्ष्मीर्वित्तवृद्धिश् च=लक्ष्मीः वित्त-वृद्धिः च; शक्रवेश्म=शक्र-वेश्म; चतुर्द्वारं=चतुर्-द्वारम्; चिन्तयेदथ=चिन्तयेत् अथ.
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa Lakṣmī-upāsanā and dhyāna-krama passages in the same khanda; general dhyāna-lakṣaṇa sections
FAQs
It teaches a specific prosperity-prayoga: performing bilva-based fire oblations in a lakṣa-count (100,000 offerings) and then practicing an internal visualization (dhyāna) of Śakra’s four-gated palace as a meditative support.
Alongside theology, the Agni Purana preserves practical ritual technologies—counted homa procedures, specific offering materials (bilva), and prescribed visualizations—showing how the text functions as a compendium of applied rites for worldly aims like wealth (artha).
The verse links disciplined ritual action (homa with a fixed count) and focused inner contemplation (hṛdaya-dhyāna) with auspicious results—invoking Lakṣmī and promoting vitta-vṛddhi—implying merit through sustained, regulated worship and concentration.