Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 6
Chapter 21 — सामान्यपूजाकथनम्
Teaching on General Worship
हृदयञ्च शिरः शूलं वर्मनेत्रमथास्त्रकम् शङ्खं चक्रं गदां पद्मं श्रीवत्सं कौस्तुभं यजेत्
hṛdayañca śiraḥ śūlaṃ varmanetramathāstrakam śaṅkhaṃ cakraṃ gadāṃ padmaṃ śrīvatsaṃ kaustubhaṃ yajet
พึงบูชาพลังอธิษฐานผู้ประจำอยู่ในดวงใจและที่ศีรษะ; แล้วบูชาตรีศูล เกราะ และเนตรทิพย์ ต่อด้วยอัสตรศักดิ์สิทธิ์; อีกทั้งสังข์ จักร คทา ปัทมะ เครื่องหมายศรีวัตสะ และแก้วเกาสตุภะด้วย
Lord Agni (in dialogue, instructing sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Aṅga-nyāsa/āvaraṇa-pūjā in Vaiṣṇava worship: mentally/ritually placing and honoring the Lord’s śaktis and emblems (śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-padma, Śrīvatsa, Kaustubha) for protection and sanctification of the body and altar.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Vaiṣṇava-nyāsa of the Lord’s emblems (Śaṅkha–Cakra–Gadā–Padma, Śrīvatsa, Kaustubha)","lookup_keywords":["nyasa","shankha chakra gada padma","srivatsa","kaustubha","astra-varma-netra"],"quick_summary":"Worship is performed by sequentially installing presiding powers in heart/head and then honoring protective/weapon aspects and the classic Vaiṣṇava emblems, culminating in Śrīvatsa and Kaustubha as auspicious identifiers of Viṣṇu."}
Weapon Type: Discus (cakra) and astra (missile-weapon); trident mentioned as protective implement in the nyāsa list
Concept: Devatā-aṅga and āyudha are treated as conscious śaktis; worship internalizes divine protection and identity with the Lord’s auspicious marks.
Application: Use as a checklist for āvaraṇa/nyāsa during pūjā, especially before mantra-japa and offering sequences.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Vaishnava iconography and worship/nyasa of the Lord’s emblems)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual diagram or altar where the worshipper mentally places divinized emblems—conch, discus, mace, lotus—then honors Śrīvatsa and Kaustubha on Viṣṇu’s chest, with gestures of nyāsa to heart and head.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, deep mineral colors, Viṣṇu caturbhuja holding śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-padma, prominent Śrīvatsa and Kaustubha, priest performing hṛdaya-śiras nyāsa, stylized lotus borders, sacred glow","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Viṣṇu seated on lotus with śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-padma, heavy gold foil highlighting Kaustubha jewel and Śrīvatsa, ornate arch, ritual implements in foreground","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional nyāsa scene: priest touching heart and head, small labeled emblems around Viṣṇu, clean linework, soft palette, emphasis on sequence and clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly precision: Viṣṇu with emblems, attendant holding conch/discus, worshipper performing nyāsa, fine detailing of jewel (Kaustubha) and chest mark (Śrīvatsa), patterned carpet and halo"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: हृदयञ्च = हृदयम् + च; वर्मनेत्रमथास्त्रकम् = वर्मनेत्रम् + अथ + अस्त्रकम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 21 (Pūjā-vidhi sections on nyāsa/āvaraṇa)
FAQs
It teaches a Vaishnava puja/nyasa sequence: worship is directed to the heart and head and then to the Lord’s protective emblems and weapons (trident, armor, eye, astra; conch, discus, mace, lotus, Śrīvatsa, Kaustubha) as worship-worthy divine powers.
By cataloging specific divine symbols and weapons and prescribing how they are ritually honored, it preserves practical liturgical knowledge alongside theology—typical of the Agni Purana’s wide-ranging, manual-like coverage of worship methods and sacred iconography.
Worshipping the Lord’s emblems as protective and auspicious powers is presented as a purificatory act that strengthens devotion (bhakti) and invokes divine protection, aligning the practitioner’s body-mind centers (heart/head) with sacred presence.