Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 22
Chapter 41 — शिलाविन्यासविधानं
The Procedure for Laying the Stones / Foundation Setting
समुद्रपरिवारे त्वं देवि गर्भं समाश्रय नन्दे नन्दय वासिष्ठे वसुभिः प्रजया सह
samudraparivāre tvaṃ devi garbhaṃ samāśraya nande nandaya vāsiṣṭhe vasubhiḥ prajayā saha
హే దేవీ! సముద్ర-పరివారంతో పరివేష్టితమైన నీవు గర్భాన్ని ఆశ్రయించి దానిని రక్షించు. హే నందా! వసువులతో కూడి, సంతానంతో సహా వాసిష్ఠ వంశాన్ని ఆనందింపజేసి అనుగ్రహించు.
Lord Agni (instructional narration within a ritual/protective context)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Protective invocation for conception, pregnancy, and lineage continuity; used as garbha-rakṣā (womb-protection) prayer in domestic and temple rites.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Mantra","entry_title":"Devī Garbha-rakṣā stuti (Ocean-surrounded Goddess; Vasiṣṭha lineage blessing)","lookup_keywords":["garbha-rakṣā","devī-stuti","prājā (progeny)","Vāsiṣṭha","Vasus"],"quick_summary":"Invoke the Goddess to ‘take refuge in and protect the womb’ and to gladden a lineage with the Vasus and progeny—framing fertility as divine guardianship and ancestral continuity."}
Alamkara Type: Sambodhana (direct address) with evocative imagery
Concept: Garbha and prajā are protected through Devī-anugraha; lineage (gotra/vaṃśa) continuity is treated as a dharmic good supported by worship.
Application: Use devotional discipline to cultivate steadiness and ethical care during family-formation; integrate prayer with responsible conduct and supportive community rites.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Devi-garbha-stuti (Protective invocation for conception and progeny)
Primary Rasa: vātsalya
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: Cosmic element
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A maternal Goddess encircled by ocean waves and aquatic attendants, extending protection over a symbolic womb/embryo; sages/lineage figures receive blessings of progeny and the Vasus.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Devī in serene maternal form, stylized blue-green ocean encircling her, aquatic attendants as parivāra, a glowing womb-symbol protected under her hand, subdued sacred palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Devī with gold halo and ornate crown, ocean rendered as decorative band, blessing gesture over a womb-lotus, Vasus as small attendant deities, heavy gold embossing","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, gentle facial expressions, clear narrative: Devī blessing a household/lineage, ocean motif behind, inscription-like clarity for garbha-rakṣā theme","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined ocean border with fish and waves, Devī seated on lotus, blessing a couple/sage family, Vasus depicted as dignified courtiers, delicate detailing"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: samudraparivāre → samudra-parivāre; samāśraya is imperative form; vasubhiḥ ... saha: saha governs instrumental.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 41 (devī-garbha stuti within pūjā-vidhi)
FAQs
A garbha-rakṣā (womb-protection) and prajā-prārthanā (progeny-invocation) formula: the Goddess is invoked to ‘abide in/protect the womb’ and to bestow joy, continuity of lineage, and offspring.
It exemplifies the Purana’s practical ritual corpus—alongside theology and myth—by preserving applied rites for life-cycle aims (conception, pregnancy protection, lineage prosperity), showing its coverage of domestic-religious practice.
Invoking the Goddess for garbha-rakṣā is framed as seeking divine guardianship over nascent life, aligning household desire for progeny with dharmic worship, and is traditionally held to confer protection, auspiciousness, and merit.