Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 23
Sargaviṣayaka-varṇana — The Topics of Primary Creation
Sarga
ऋषिभ्यो नारदाद्युक्ताः पूजाः स्नानादिपूर्विकाः स्वायम्भुवाद्यास्ताः कृत्वा विष्ण्वादेर्भुक्तिमुक्तिदाः
ṛṣibhyo nāradādyuktāḥ pūjāḥ snānādipūrvikāḥ svāyambhuvādyāstāḥ kṛtvā viṣṇvāderbhuktimuktidāḥ
నారదాది ఋషులు ఉపదేశించిన, స్నానాది పూర్వకంగా స్వాయంభువ పరంపరనుండి ప్రారంభమయ్యే పూజావిధులను ఆచరించినవాడు విష్ణువాదిదేవతల ద్వారా భోగమూ మోక్షమూ అనే రెండు ఫలములను పొందును।
Lord Agni (traditionally narrating the Agni Purana’s ritual sections to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"A practical pūjā template: begin with snāna and preliminaries, follow rṣi-taught paddhatis (e.g., Nārada), and perform deity worship for both bhukti (worldly welfare) and mukti (liberation).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Snāna-pūrvikā pūjā (Svāyambhuva-ādi paddhati) for bhukti–mukti","lookup_keywords":["pūjā-vidhi","snāna","nārada","svāyambhuva","bhukti-mukti","viṣṇu-pūjā"],"quick_summary":"Worship should be performed in a lineage-based procedure beginning with purification (snāna); such pūjā yields both worldly benefit and liberation when directed to Viṣṇu and other deities."}
Concept: Bhakti expressed through orderly ritual (vidhi) can legitimately aim at both bhukti and mukti; purity and lineage-instruction stabilize practice.
Application: Adopt a consistent pūjā routine: snāna → ācamana/saṅkalpa → guru/rṣi-smaraṇa → devatā-arcana; dedicate fruits toward gradual shift from bhukti to mukti.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Worship procedures; Snana and preliminary rites)
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A worshipper performing preliminary bathing and then pūjā as taught by sages like Nārada; a clean altar with Viṣṇu (and other deities) receiving offerings, symbolizing both worldly prosperity and liberation.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: temple tank snāna scene leading to a pūjā-maṇḍapa; Nārada with vīṇā instructing; Viṣṇu icon on pedestal with lamps and flowers; saturated colors, traditional ornamentation.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: richly decorated Viṣṇu on throne with gold halo; foreground devotee after snāna offering flowers and dīpa; Nārada at side; heavy gold leaf, jewel-like palette.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: step-by-step instructional tableau—snāna, then altar arrangement, then offering sequence; fine lines, soft shading, labeled ritual items (dīpa, puṣpa, naivedya).","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: domestic shrine scene with detailed vessels and textiles; devotee freshly bathed; Nārada as visiting sage; Viṣṇu image on a small altar; delicate architectural interior and border illumination."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shuddha Saveri","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: नारदाद्युक्ताः → नारद + आदि + युक्ताः; स्नानादिपूर्विकाः → स्नान + आदि + पूर्विकाः; स्वायम्भुवाद्यास्ताः → स्वायम्भुव + आद्याः + ताः; विष्ण्वादेर्भुक्तिमुक्तिदाः → विष्णु-आदेः + भुक्ति-मुक्ति-दाः (विष्णु + आदि with sandhi to विष्ण्वादेः).
Related Themes: Agni Purana pūjā-vidhi chapters (snāna, saṅkalpa, upacāras); Agni Purana sections on bhukti–mukti phala-śruti
FAQs
It specifies a puja-krama: worship as taught by rishis (e.g., Nārada), explicitly requiring snāna (ritual bathing) and other preliminaries before performing deity-worship.
It catalogs ritual lineages (Svāyambhuva and rishi-teachings) and links practical procedure (snāna-pūrvikā pūjā) to outcomes (bhukti/mukti), showing the text’s blend of liturgy, tradition-history, and soteriology.
Performing properly prepared worship (with purification preliminaries) is said to yield both worldly prosperity (bhukti) and ultimate release (mukti), especially through devotion to Viṣṇu and related deities.