Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 9
Chapter 172 — “Expiations beginning with the Secret
Rites)” (Rahasya-ādi-prāyaścitta
नृसिंहानन्त गोविन्द भूतभवन केशव विष्णवे विष्णवे इति ज , ञ च दुरुक्तं दुष्कृतं ध्यातं शमयाघन्नमो ऽस्तु ते
nṛsiṃhānanta govinda bhūtabhavana keśava viṣṇave viṣṇave iti ja , ña ca duruktaṃ duṣkṛtaṃ dhyātaṃ śamayāghannamo 'stu te
O Nṛsiṃha, Ananta, Govinda, Bhūta-bhavana, Keśava—ako’y yumuyuko kay Viṣṇu, kay Viṣṇu. Sa pagbigkas ng mga pantig na “ja” at “ña” kasama ng mga banal na pangalang ito, pawiin nawa ang mga kasalanang mula sa masamang pananalita, masasamang gawa, at maging sa makasalanang pag-iisip. Pagpupugay sa Iyo.
Lord Agni (narrating the ritual/recitation to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Protective/expiatory recitation invoking Nṛsiṃha and Viṣṇu-nāmas to pacify sins of speech, action, and thought; used in prāyaścitta contexts and daily safeguarding.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Pāpa-śamana japa with Nṛsiṃha–Ananta–Govinda nāmas and syllables 'ja'/'ña'","lookup_keywords":["Nṛsiṃha","pāpa-śamana","durukta","duṣkṛta","ja ña"],"quick_summary":"Atonement formula: recite specific Viṣṇu epithets (and indicated syllables) to calm faults arising from harsh speech, wrongful deeds, and sinful ideation."}
Alamkara Type: Nāma-samuccaya (catalog of epithets) with repetition (Viṣṇave Viṣṇave)
Concept: Tri-karaṇa-śuddhi (purification of body–speech–mind) via nāma-japa and surrender to the protector (Nṛsiṃha).
Application: Adopt mindful speech (vāg-yama), ethical action, and thought-discipline; use japa as corrective practice after lapses.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Stotra-mantra (Vaishnava expiation and protective recitation)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A devotee recites protective names of Viṣṇu, invoking fierce Nṛsiṃha to quell sins of speech, deed, and thought; the syllables 'ja' and 'ña' appear as sacred letters.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: Ugra Nṛsiṃha with radiant halo beside serene Viṣṇu, devotee chanting with palm-leaf manuscript, sacred akṣaras 'ja' 'ña' stylized in the border, temple lamp glow, rich earthy palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: Nṛsiṃha as central protective deity with gold foil aura, flanked by Viṣṇu symbols, devotee in añjali, embossed gold letters 'ja' 'ña' near the base, ornate arch frame.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: instructional composition—devotee seated in japa posture, rosary, clear depiction of akṣaras 'ja' and 'ña' as calligraphic elements, Nṛsiṃha appearing in a protective vision above.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: intimate chamber scene of recitation, delicate script of 'Viṣṇave Viṣṇave', visionary Nṛsiṃha in a clouded aureole, fine textiles and floral margins."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: नमोऽस्तु = नमः + अस्तु. नृसिंहानन्त = नृसिंह + आनन्त (समास/सन्धि). ‘ज, ञ’ पाठे बीजाक्षर/वर्ण-उच्चारणरूपेण; मूलपाठभेद सम्भव. ‘अघन्’ इति ‘अघम्’ (पापम्) इत्यस्य रूप/पाठभेदः।
Related Themes: Agni Purana 172 (prāyaścitta/nāma-japa sequence)
FAQs
It teaches a practical expiatory japa: invoking specific Viṣṇu epithets and the varṇa/bīja syllables “ja” and “ña” to pacify sins generated through speech, action, and even mental intention.
Alongside theology, it preserves applied ritual technology—name-recitation, syllabic (varṇa/bīja) usage, and graded purification of faults (vācika, kāyika, mānasika)—showing the Purana’s coverage of both doctrine and practice.
It frames devotion as corrective karma: sincere remembrance of Viṣṇu is presented as capable of calming demerit arising from harmful speech, wrongful conduct, and impure thought, emphasizing inner purification as well as outward restraint.