Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 14
Chapter 21 — सामान्यपूजाकथनम्
Teaching on General Worship
उच्चैःश्रवाश्चारुणश् च प्रभूतं विमलं यजेत् साराध्योपरमसुखं स्कन्दाद्यं मध्यतो यजेत्
uccaiḥśravāścāruṇaś ca prabhūtaṃ vimalaṃ yajet sārādhyoparamasukhaṃ skandādyaṃ madhyato yajet
உச்சைஃஸ்ரவா மற்றும் சாருண, மேலும் பிரபூத மற்றும் விமலரை வழிபட வேண்டும். சாராத்ய, பரமசுகரையும் பூஜிக்க வேண்டும்; நடுப்பகுதியில் ஸ்கந்தன் முதலியவர்களையும் வழிபட வேண்டும்.
Lord Agni (narrating ritual procedure to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional mode)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Mandala/nyāsa-style worship: placing and honoring named attendant powers/deities (Uccaiḥśravā, Cāruṇa, Prabhūta, Vimala, Sārādhya, Paramasukha) and positioning Skanda and others in the center of the ritual array.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Devata-nyāsa placement: Uccaiḥśravā–Paramasukha; Skanda in the center","lookup_keywords":["Uccaiḥśravā","Skanda","nyāsa","maṇḍala","Paramasukha"],"quick_summary":"Lists deities/qualities to be worshipped and indicates spatial placement (‘in the middle’). Practically, it guides the layout of a devatā-maṇḍala and the order of offerings."}
Concept: Ritual space is sacralized by ordered placement (sthāna-krama) of devatās; center signifies governing power.
Application: Construct the worship layout with specified names at their nodes; ensure the ‘middle’ is reserved for Skanda and the indicated group before offering.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Devata-pratishtha and Mandala/Devatā-nyāsa style worship instructions)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: vīra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual maṇḍala with named nodes; peripheral positions marked for Uccaiḥśravā, Cāruṇa, Prabhūta, Vimala, Sārādhya, Paramasukha; Skanda and companions placed at the center with offerings arranged symmetrically.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural showing a geometric maṇḍala on the floor, Skanda centered with spear and peacock emblem, surrounding labeled attendant figures including a white divine horse (Uccaiḥśravā), warm earthy tones.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting of central Skanda with gold halo, framed by a symmetric ring of attendant deities/qualities, ornate arch, gold embellishments highlighting the ‘center’ sanctity.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style instructional plate: clear mandala diagram with deity names in Devanagari, central Skanda icon, peripheral placements, priest pointing to the middle position.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature of a ritual pavilion with a floor mandala, central youthful warrior deity (Skanda) depicted iconically, attendants around, fine textiles and precise geometry."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: uccaiḥśravāś = uccaiḥśravāḥ + ca; sārādhyoparamasukhaṃ = sa + ārādhya + uparama + sukham; skandādyaṃ = skanda + ādyam.
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa 21 (mandala/nyāsa and devatā-krama instructions)
FAQs
It gives a prescriptive yajana-krama (order of worship), listing specific named figures to be honored and indicating placement—Skanda and associated deities are to be worshipped in the central position of the ritual layout.
Beyond mythology, the Agni Purana functions as a practical ritual handbook: it catalogs deity-names and gives procedural rules (who to worship and where to place them), reflecting its manual-like, encyclopedic coverage of worship systems.
Following the prescribed order and placement is presented as a correctness principle in pūjā (ritual propriety), understood to enhance purity (vimala) and merit by aligning worship with the intended sacred arrangement.