Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 58
Chapter 24 — कुण्डनिर्माणादिविधिः
Procedure for Constructing the Fire-pit and Related Rites
विष्णुनिर्माल्यमखिलं विष्वक्सेनाय चार्पयेत् प्रणीताभिस् तथात्मानमभिषिच्य च कुण्डगं
viṣṇunirmālyamakhilaṃ viṣvaksenāya cārpayet praṇītābhis tathātmānamabhiṣicya ca kuṇḍagaṃ
విష్ణువు యొక్క సమస్త నిర్మాల్యాన్ని విష్వక్సేనునికి అర్పించాలి. అలాగే ప్రణీత (అభిమంత్రిత) జలాలతో తనను మరియు కుండ-పాత్రాన్ని కూడా అభిషేకించి శుద్ధి చేయాలి.
Lord Agni (in discourse to the sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purana’s standard narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Vaishnava temple/household puja closure: handling Vishnu nirmalya, offering it to Vishvaksena, and self/ritual-vessel purification with pranita water to maintain ritual purity and proper hierarchy of attendants.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Vishnu-nirmalya arpaṇa to Viṣvaksena and praṇīta-prokṣaṇa","lookup_keywords":["viṣṇu-nirmālya","viṣvaksena","praṇīta-jala","prokṣaṇa","kuṇḍa"],"quick_summary":"After worship, the sacred remnants of Viṣṇu are formally offered to Viṣvaksena; the consecrated water (praṇīta) is used to sprinkle oneself and the ritual receptacle to seal purity and completion."}
Concept: Ritual purity and delegation to divine attendants (Viṣvaksena) as part of orderly worship.
Application: Treat nirmālya as sacred; conclude worship by offering remnants appropriately and performing prokṣaṇa to prevent ritual faults (doṣa) and maintain sanctity.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Vaishnava temple worship and consecration rites)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A Vaishnava priest places Vishnu’s flower-garland remnants into a tray before Viṣvaksena’s icon, then sprinkles consecrated water over himself and a ritual vessel/kuṇḍa beside the altar.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, Vaishnava sanctum interior, priest offering Vishnu nirmalya to Vishvaksena, brass vessels, conch and lamp, delicate earth pigments, frontal deity icon, serene ritual mood.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, ornate Vaishnava altar with Vishnu and small Vishvaksena panel, priest holding nirmalya garland and sprinkling pranita water, rich reds and greens, heavy gold leaf highlights on ornaments and arch.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional puja scene with labeled ritual items (kuṇḍa, kalaśa, prokṣaṇa), soft shading, fine linework, calm priestly posture, emphasis on procedure.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly-rendered temple chamber, detailed textiles and vessels, priest offering garlands to a small Vishvaksena figure, sprinkling water, precise architectural borders and delicate brushwork."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shree","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: viṣṇunirmālyamakhilam → viṣṇu-nirmālyam + akhilam; viṣvaksenāya cārpayet → viṣvaksenāya + ca + arpayet; praṇītābhis tathātmānamabhiṣicya → praṇītābhiḥ + tathā + ātmānam + abhiṣicya.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 24 (agni-karya/puja-vidhi context); Agni Purana 25 (mantra-prakaraṇa continuation)
FAQs
It prescribes correct handling of Viṣṇu’s nirmālya by dedicating it to Viṣvaksena, and instructs purification by aspersion using praṇīta (ritually empowered) water for both the worshipper and a ritual vessel/receptacle (kuṇḍaga).
It preserves procedural temple-ritual details—allocation of offerings to attendant deities (Viṣvaksena) and standardized purification with praṇīta water—showing the text’s manual-like coverage of liturgy alongside broader Purāṇic topics.
Proper offering of nirmālya and ritual purification are treated as safeguards of śauca (sacral cleanliness) and correctness in worship, supporting merit (puṇya) and removing ritual impediments (doṣa/vighna) before proceeding with further rites.