Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 14
Chapter 23 — पूजाविधिकथनम्
The Account of the Rules of Worship
स्नानं वस्त्रोपवीतञ्च भूषणं गन्धपुष्पकं धूपदीपनैर् वेद्यानि पुण्डरीकाक्षविद्यया
snānaṃ vastropavītañca bhūṣaṇaṃ gandhapuṣpakaṃ dhūpadīpanair vedyāni puṇḍarīkākṣavidyayā
غسل، لباس اور اُپویت، زیورات، خوشبو اور پھول، نیز دھوپ اور دیپ—یہ سب پُنڈریکاکش-ودیا کے مطابق پیش کیے جانے والے نذرانے ہیں۔
Lord Agni (narrating to sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional dialogue framework)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Upacāra list aligned to Puṇḍarīkākṣa-vidyā (Vishnu-mantra system): prepare self and offerings—snāna, vastra, upavīta, ornaments, gandha, puṣpa, dhūpa, dīpa—before/while reciting the vidyā.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Puṇḍarīkākṣa-vidyā upacāras (bath, dress, fragrance, lamp, etc.)","lookup_keywords":["pundarikaksha-vidya","upachara","snana","dhupa-dipa","gandha-pushpa"],"quick_summary":"For Vishnu worship under the Puṇḍarīkākṣa-vidyā, offer bodily purification and adornment items plus fragrance, flowers, incense, and lamp—standardizing pūjā materials and sequence."}
Concept: External order (cleanliness, offerings) supports internal mantra-vidyā; devotion is enacted through disciplined sensory offerings (gandha, puṣpa, dhūpa, dīpa).
Application: Keep a fixed pūjā kit; begin with personal cleanliness and upavīta/vastra correctness, then proceed to sensory offerings while maintaining mantra continuity.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Vishnu mantra/vidya and worship procedure)
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A Vishnu pūjā setup: the worshipper freshly bathed, wearing clean garments and upavīta, arranging ornaments, sandal paste, flowers, incense, and a lit lamp before an image/maṇḍala of lotus-eyed Vishnu, with mantra text indicated as Puṇḍarīkākṣa-vidyā.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: lotus-eyed Vishnu presence with conch/discus motifs, priest in white cloth and sacred thread, offerings of gandha and flowers, curling incense smoke, oil lamp glow","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: Vishnu with large lotus-like eyes, heavy gold work on ornaments, bright lamp flames, thick garlands, embossed incense holder, rich temple setting","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: neat instructional still-life of pūjā items labeled snāna/vastra/upavīta/gandha/puṣpa/dhūpa/dīpa, with a small Vishnu icon at top, fine detailing","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: a devotee in a quiet chamber, arranging flowers and lamp before a Vishnu painting, delicate smoke trails, refined textiles and vessels"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Madhyamavati","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वस्त्रोपवीतम् = वस्त्र + उपवीतम्; उपवीतञ्च = उपवीतम् + च; गन्धपुष्पकम् = गन्ध + पुष्पकम्; धूपदीपनैः = धूप + दीपनैः; पुण्डरीकाक्षविद्यया = पुण्डरीकाक्ष + विद्यया.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 23 (Vishnu pūjā materials; vidyā-based worship)
FAQs
It enumerates the standard upacāras (ritual offerings/services)—snāna, vastra-upavīta, bhūṣaṇa, gandha-puṣpa, dhūpa and dīpa—stating they should be offered according to the Puṇḍarīkākṣa-vidyā (Vishnu mantra-based ritual method).
Alongside cosmology and dharma, the Agni Purana preserves practical liturgical checklists for worship—codifying ritual materials and procedure as a technical manual for daily/temple devotion.
By offering purified, prescribed upacāras with mantra-vidyā, the worship becomes ritually complete and merit-bearing (puṇya), supporting purification (śuddhi) and devotional alignment with the deity.