Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 21
Māheśvara-snāna: Lakṣa/Koṭi-homa, Protective Baths, Unguents, and Graha-Śānti
कृष्णानि चैव रक्तानि पञ्चवर्णानि निर्दिशेत् उत्पलं पद्मजाती च त्रिशीतं हरिपूजने
kṛṣṇāni caiva raktāni pañcavarṇāni nirdiśet utpalaṃ padmajātī ca triśītaṃ haripūjane
Sa pagsamba kay Hari (Viṣṇu), dapat itakda ang pagpili ng mga bulaklak na may limang kulay, kabilang ang madidilim (itim/bughaw) at pula; gaya ng utpala (bughaw na lotus), padma-jātī (isang uri ng lotus), at ang bulaklak na triśīta, para sa pag-aalay kay Hari.
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha, in the typical Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Stotra","practical_application":"Selection of flower-offerings by color for Vaiṣṇava pūjā, ensuring prescribed varieties (utpala, padma-jātī, triśīta) and a five-color set.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Hari-pūjā: Pañcavarṇa-puṣpa (five-colored flowers) including Utpala and Padma-jātī","lookup_keywords":["hari-pūjā","pañcavarṇa","utpala","padma-jātī","triśīta-puṣpa"],"quick_summary":"For Viṣṇu worship, offer flowers in five colors, explicitly including dark/blue-hued and red flowers such as blue lotus and lotus varieties, along with triśīta flower."}
Concept: Upacāra-niyama: devotion expressed through disciplined selection of offerings (dravya/puṣpa) aligned to deity and rite.
Application: In daily/occasional Viṣṇu pūjā, prepare a balanced set of flowers by color and type to maintain ritual completeness and aesthetic sanctity.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Vaishnava worship materials and flower-offerings)
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A Vaiṣṇava altar with Viṣṇu image, surrounded by five-colored flower offerings—blue utpala, red lotuses, and other hues—arranged symmetrically in trays.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Viṣṇu in serene stance, large stylized lotus pond motifs, devotees presenting five-color garlands, prominent blue utpala and red padma, rhythmic ornamental borders","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, Viṣṇu on pedestal with gold-leaf arch, thick jeweled garlands in five colors, blue lotus and red lotus emphasized, lamps at the base","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean instructional composition: labeled five-color flower set on a pūjā plate before Viṣṇu, delicate pastel shading and fine outlines","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly devotee offering trays of multicolored flowers to a small Viṣṇu shrine, detailed textiles, lotus pond in background"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चैव = च + एव।
Related Themes: Agni Purana 266 (puja-dravya and flower classifications)
FAQs
It specifies approved flower-offerings for Haripūjā, emphasizing selection by colour (five-colour classification) and naming particular flowers like utpala and lotus varieties for Vaiṣṇava worship.
By cataloguing concrete pūjā-materials (flowers and their classifications), it functions like a ritual manual embedded in the Purāṇa, alongside its many other domains (dharma, polity, medicine, arts).
Using prescribed, auspicious offerings in Hari’s worship is presented as a means to perform pūjā correctly (yathāvidhi), supporting purity of rite and merit (puṇya) through disciplined devotional practice.