Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 43
Chapter 33 — पवित्रारोहणविधानं
The Procedure for Pavitrārohaṇa / Installing the Sacred Thread or Consecratory Amulet
पूर्वदक्षाप्यसौम्येषु मूर्त्यावरणमर्चयेत् वासुदेवः सङ्कर्षणः प्रद्युम्नश्चानिरुद्धकः
pūrvadakṣāpyasaumyeṣu mūrtyāvaraṇamarcayet vāsudevaḥ saṅkarṣaṇaḥ pradyumnaścāniruddhakaḥ
Sa silangan, timog, at hilagang mga dako, dapat sambahin ang nakapaligid na kapisanan ng mga anyo ng diyos: sina Vāsudeva, Saṅkarṣaṇa, Pradyumna, at Aniruddha.
Lord Agni (in dialogue with the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Directional worship (dik-pūjā) of Viṣṇu’s vyūhas as an āvaraṇa (retinue) around the main deity in a pūjā-maṇḍala.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Caturvyūha Āvaraṇa: Vāsudeva–Saṅkarṣaṇa–Pradyumna–Aniruddha","lookup_keywords":["vyuha","vasudeva","sankarshana","pradyumna","aniruddha"],"quick_summary":"The verse lists the four vyūhas to be worshipped as surrounding forms, placed by direction as part of a structured Vaiṣṇava āvaraṇa-pūjā."}
Concept: The One Hari is approached through ordered emanational forms (vyūhas) that structure worship and theology.
Application: Design a pūjā-maṇḍala or temple parivāra scheme using the caturvyūha as the principal surrounding deities.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Vaishnava iconography and worship of the Vyūhas)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A central Viṣṇu icon with four surrounding forms placed by direction, each on a lotus pedestal, forming a symmetrical āvaraṇa around the sanctum or altar diagram.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: mandala-like shrine composition with central Hari and four vyūhas around, flat iconic symmetry, rich earthy palette, directional markers subtly indicated.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: central Viṣṇu with gold halo, four vyūhas in corner/side panels with heavy gold work, lotus pedestals, ornate arch framing the ensemble.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clean diagrammatic yet devotional layout—central icon with four directional attendants, soft washes, fine ornament lines, emphasis on placement clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: courtly shrine scene with a painted mandala floor, four attendant deities around the central Viṣṇu, delicate architectural perspective and textile detail."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Shree","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पूर्वदक्षाप्यसौम्येषु is a compressed sandhi/compound-like sequence: पूर्व + दक्ष + अपि + असौम्येषु; मूर्त्यावरणम् = मूर्ति + आवरणम्; प्रद्युम्नश्च = प्रद्युम्नः + च.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Vaiṣṇava pūjā-vidhi and āvaraṇa-pūjā passages; Agni Purana: iconography lists for Hari and parivāra-devatās
FAQs
It teaches āvaraṇa-arcana: worship of the deity’s surrounding retinue by placing and honoring the four Viṣṇu Vyūhas (Vāsudeva, Saṅkarṣaṇa, Pradyumna, Aniruddha) in specified directions.
It preserves a practical temple-ritual protocol drawn from Vaiṣṇava/Pāñcarātra systems—showing that the Agni Purana functions as a handbook that includes liturgy, icon placement, and direction-based worship procedures.
Directionally ordered worship of the Vyūhas is presented as a complete (paripūrṇa) form of devotion that harmonizes the shrine’s sacred space, supporting purification and merit through correctly performed arcana.