Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 22
Chapter 23 — पूजाविधिकथनम्
The Account of the Rules of Worship
हृन्नाभिगुह्यजान्वङ्घ्रौ मध्ये पूर्वादिकं यजेत् एकपीठं नवव्यूहं नवपीठञ्च पूर्ववत्
hṛnnābhiguhyajānvaṅghrau madhye pūrvādikaṃ yajet ekapīṭhaṃ navavyūhaṃ navapīṭhañca pūrvavat
Dapat sambahin ang mga diyos na nakatalaga sa puso, pusod, lihim na bahagi, mga tuhod, at mga paa; at sa gitnang lugar ay sambahin simula sa silangan at iba pang direksiyon. Sambahin din ang eka-pīṭha (iisang Luklukan), ang siyam na vyūha, at ang siyam na pīṭha, ayon sa naunang paglalarawan.
Lord Agni (in dialogue with Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Executing deha-nyāsa and maṇḍala/diśā worship for Viṣṇu’s vyūha-pīṭha system—placing deities at heart, navel, guhya, knees, feet, and then worshipping directional stations and pīṭhas.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Vyuha–Pīṭha Nyāsa: Heart–Navel–Guhya–Knees–Feet and Directional Worship; Eka-pīṭha, Nava-vyūha, Nava-pīṭha","lookup_keywords":["hṛd-nyāsa","nava-vyūha","nava-pīṭha","maṇḍala-pūjā","diśā-yajana"],"quick_summary":"Worship the stationed deities in bodily loci (heart to feet) and then perform central and directional worship, repeating the established method for the single seat, nine vyūhas, and nine seats."}
Concept: Microcosm–macrocosm correspondence: body-loci and directional cosmos unified through maṇḍala worship.
Application: Use fixed loci and diśā-krama to prevent ritual error (doṣa) and to stabilize the āvaraṇa sequence in pūjā.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Vishnu/Vyuha-Pitha Nyasa and Mandala Worship)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual maṇḍala with a central station and eight directions, alongside a yogic body-map showing heart, navel, guhya, knees, and feet marked for deity placements; the worshipper offers in east-first order.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized maṇḍala floor design with eight directions, a calm priest indicating heart-to-feet loci on a symbolic figure, warm earth tones, clear directional markers, sacred geometry emphasis.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, central Viṣṇu radiating ninefold arrangement, gold leaf highlighting the central pīṭha and surrounding seats, devotee performing offerings to east and other directions, ornate symmetry.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional diagram aesthetic: body-loci labels (hṛt, nābhi, guhya, jānu, aṅghri) and a neat ninefold maṇḍala, arrows showing pūrvādi-krama, soft colors and precise linework.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly precision: a square ritual space with directional attendants, central seat emphasized, the practitioner moving clockwise from east, fine calligraphy for pīṭha/vyūha names, delicate geometry."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: हृन्नाभिगुह्यजान्वङ्घ्रौ = हृत्-नाभि-गुह्य-जानु-अङ्घ्रौ; पूर्वादिकम् = पूर्व-आदिकम्; नवपीठञ्च = नव-पीठम् च.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 23 (preceding ‘pūrvavat’ method for āvaraṇa worship); Agni Purana 24 (kunda/mandala measurements as external counterpart to internal mandala)
FAQs
It teaches a nyāsa-style worship sequence: adorning/worshipping deities at specific bodily loci (heart, navel, groin, knees, feet) and then performing a directions-based (east onward) mandala arrangement for the eka-pīṭha, nine vyūhas, and nine pīṭhas, following the earlier procedure.
It preserves a technical ritual taxonomy (pīṭha and vyūha schemes, body-locus worship, and directional mandala order), showing the text’s compendium-like inclusion of detailed temple/tāntric liturgy alongside its many other disciplines.
By correctly placing worship in body-centers and in the ordered directions, the practitioner aligns the microcosm (body) with the cosmic mandala, aiming at purification, steadiness of mind, and merit through properly performed deity-installation and homage.