Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 20
Chapter 370: नरकनिरूपणम्
Naraka-nirūpaṇa) — Description of Hell (with the physiology of dying and the subtle transition
तामिश्रमन्धतामिश्रं महारौरवरौरवौ असिपत्रं वनञ्चैव लोहभारं तथैव च
tāmiśramandhatāmiśraṃ mahārauravarauravau asipatraṃ vanañcaiva lohabhāraṃ tathaiva ca
తామిశ్ర, అంధతామిశ్ర, మహారౌరవ మరియు రౌరవ, అసిపత్రం, అసిపత్ర-వనం, అలాగే లోహభారం—ఇవే నరకములు అని చెప్పబడినవి।
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, standard Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Cosmology","practical_application":"Ethical restraint through vivid mapping of karmic consequences; used in pravacana/teaching to deter adharma.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Naraka-nāma-saṅgraha (Tāmiśra–Lohabhāra)","lookup_keywords":["Tāmiśra","Andhatāmiśra","Raurava","Asipatra","Lohabhāra"],"quick_summary":"Enumerates principal hell-realms as a doctrinal list; serves as a mnemonic catalogue for karma-phala instruction."}
Concept: Karma-phala and post-mortem retribution as deterrent and moral education.
Application: Use the naraka-catalogue in self-audit (ātma-parīkṣā) to avoid pāpa and cultivate yama-niyama-like restraints.
Khanda Section: Naraka-varnana (Descriptions of Hell-realms and Karmic Retribution)
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A didactic tableau listing named hell-realms: darkness (Tāmiśra), blinding darkness (Andhatāmiśra), roaring torment (Raurava/Mahāraurava), a forest of sword-leaves (Asipatra), and crushing iron burden (Lohabhāra).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, deep mineral reds and greens, layered underworld registers with labeled hells: Tāmiśra as pitch-black cavern, Andhatāmiśra as smoky blindness, Raurava with roaring beasts, Asipatra as sword-leaf forest, Lohabhāra with iron weights; traditional linework, flat perspective, ornate borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf highlights on iron burdens and sword-leaves, compartmentalized panels each titled with Devanagari labels of the narakas, dramatic but stylized figures, rich maroons and emeralds, embossed ornamentation.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, fine ink outlines and soft washes, instructional chart-like composition with neat captions for each naraka, emphasis on clarity of the named realms, restrained palette, delicate detailing.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, meticulous landscape of an underworld garden turned perilous: Asipatra sword-leaves rendered like sharp foliage, iron burdens depicted with metallic sheen, small cartouches naming Tāmiśra/Andhatāmiśra/Raurava; high detail, layered depth."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"solemn","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वनञ्चैव = वनम् + च + एव; तथैव = तथा + एव. Verse is a list of hell-names; many items appear in accusative/nominative neuter as enumeration.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Naraka-varṇana sections (adjacent verses 370.21–370.24); Agni Purana: Dharma/śrāddha/preta-related passages (general)
FAQs
It transmits classificatory knowledge of Narakas (hell-realms) by naming specific punishment domains used in Purāṇic karmic doctrine.
By cataloguing cosmological and ethical-eschatological data (names of hells), it functions like a reference list within the Purāṇa’s wide-ranging compendium of topics.
It reinforces karma-ethics by reminding listeners that harmful actions have defined post-mortem consequences mapped to specific Naraka realms.