Agni Purana — Bhuvanakosha & Tirtha-mahatmya, Shloka 9
प्रयागमाहात्म्यम्
The Greatness of Prayāga
दशतीर्थसहस्राणि षष्टिकोट्यस् तथापराः तेषां सान्निध्यमत्रैव प्रयागं परमन्ततः
daśatīrthasahasrāṇi ṣaṣṭikoṭyas tathāparāḥ teṣāṃ sānnidhyamatraiva prayāgaṃ paramantataḥ
ทิรถะหนึ่งหมื่นแห่ง และอีกหกสิบโกฏิทิรถะอื่น ๆ—สานนिधยะของทิรถะเหล่านั้นทั้งหมดมีอยู่ที่นี่เท่านั้น; เพราะฉะนั้น ประยาคะจึงเป็นทิรถะสูงสุดโดยแท้
Lord Agni (narrating the tīrtha-māhātmya to the sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the common Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Cosmology","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Establishing Prayaga’s supremacy for pilgrimage planning: prioritizing it as a ‘tirtha-sangraha’ where the merit of many tirthas is believed to converge.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Prayaga as Tirtha-Sangraha: Presence of Myriad Tirthas","lookup_keywords":["dasha-sahasra tirtha","shashti-koti","Prayaga param","tirtha-sannidhya","mahatmya"],"quick_summary":"By hyperbolic enumeration, the verse teaches that the sanctity of countless tirthas is present at Prayaga, making it ‘parama’ among sacred fords."}
Alamkara Type: Atishayokti
Concept: Kshetra-mahatmya logic: sacred potency is concentrative and can be ‘present’ (sannidhya) in a single locus.
Application: When limited by time/resources, choose a ‘tirtha-sangraha’ site for concentrated pilgrimage observance.
Khanda Section: Tirtha-Mahatmya (Sacred Geography and Pilgrimage Merit)
Primary Rasa: Adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: Shraddha
Type: Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A cosmic map-like vision where innumerable tirthas appear as luminous symbols converging into Prayaga, shown at the center of a radiant confluence.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, central Prayaga confluence with concentric halos, many small tirtha-icons (rivers, lingas, shrines) floating toward the center, bold sacred geometry, stylized clouds and waves","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, Prayaga at center with heavy gold aura, surrounding medallions representing countless tirthas, ornate border, jewel tones emphasizing supremacy","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, diagrammatic sacred-geography composition: labeled tirtha emblems converging to Prayaga, delicate lines, restrained gold, instructional clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, allegorical landscape collage of many pilgrimage sites arranged around a central confluence, fine detail, balanced composition, subtle symbolism"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: षष्टिकोट्यस्→षष्टि + कोट्यः (visarga sandhi). तथापराः→तथा + अपराः. सान्निध्यमत्रैव→सान्निध्यम् + अत्र + एव.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 111.6; Agni Purana 111.10
FAQs
It teaches a tīrtha-māhātmya principle: the merit and efficacy of innumerable pilgrimage sites are said to be ‘present’ (sānnidhya) at Prayāga, making it a concentrated locus for pilgrimage and purification rites.
Alongside ritual, polity, medicine, and poetics, the Agni Purāṇa also systematizes sacred geography (tīrtha literature). This verse exemplifies its cataloging-and-ranking of holy places and their karmic efficacy.
By declaring the collective presence of countless tīrthas at Prayāga, it frames pilgrimage there as exceptionally potent for accruing puṇya and for moral-spiritual purification.