Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 12
Chapter 35: पवित्राधिवासनादिविधिः
Method of Consecrating the Pavitra and Related Rites
गन्धादिभिः समभ्यर्च्य गन्धपुष्पाक्षतादिमत् विष्णुतेजोभवेत्यादिमूलेन हरयेर्पयेत्
gandhādibhiḥ samabhyarcya gandhapuṣpākṣatādimat viṣṇutejobhavetyādimūlena harayerpayet
خوشبو وغیرہ سے باقاعدہ پوجا کرکے—عطر، پھول، اَکشَت (سالم چاول) وغیرہ سمیت—“وِشنو تیجو بھویت…” سے شروع ہونے والے مول منتر کے ذریعے انہیں بھگوان ہری کو سونپے۔
Lord Agni (in instruction/narration to the sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana discourse frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","practical_application":"Specifies upacāras (gandha, puṣpa, akṣata, etc.) and the use of a particular mūla-mantra to formally offer them to Hari in Vaiṣṇava worship.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Offering upacāras to Hari with the Viṣṇu mūla-mantra","lookup_keywords":["gandha","puṣpa","akṣata","upacāra","mūla-mantra"],"quick_summary":"After worship with fragrance, flowers, and akṣata, present the offerings to Hari while reciting the specified root-mantra beginning ‘viṣṇu-tejo-bhavet…’."}
Concept: Mantra and offering (dravya) together complete worship; the mantra ‘seals’ the act of giving and aligns it with the deity’s tejas.
Application: In daily pūjā, pair each upacāra with its mantra; keep offerings clean and complete (especially akṣata as ‘unbroken’ auspiciousness).
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Vaishnava worship and mantra-offering procedure)
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A pūjā altar with bowls of sandal paste, flowers, and akṣata; the worshipper offers them before a Viṣṇu image while reciting the mūla-mantra.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Viṣṇu shrine with oil lamps, devotee holding flower plate with akṣata, sandal paste container, priestly posture of mantra-recitation, subdued sacred glow","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, Viṣṇu icon richly ornamented with gold, offering tray with flowers and rice grains, ornate vessels, bright devotional palette","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear depiction of each upacāra item (gandha, puṣpa, akṣata) arranged neatly, worshipper in profile chanting, instructional clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed still-life of offerings on a carpeted platform, Viṣṇu image in a niche, worshipper presenting a tray, fine calligraphic border"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: समभ्यर्च्य = सम् + अभ्यर्च्य; विष्णुतेजोभवेत्यादिमूलेन = विष्णुतेजः भवेत् इति आदिमूलेन; हरयेर्पयेत् = हरये अर्पयेत्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Puja-vidhi lists of upacāras and mantra-vidhi for Vaiṣṇava worship (same khanda)
FAQs
It prescribes a specific upacāra-sequence in Viṣṇu-pūjā: worship with gandha (perfume/sandal), puṣpa (flowers), akṣata (unbroken rice), etc., and then formally offer them using the deity’s mūla-mantra (root mantra) beginning “viṣṇu-tejo-bhavet…”.
By codifying practical ritual details—standard offerings (gandha, puṣpa, akṣata) and the correct deployment of a mūla-mantra—it exemplifies how the Agni Purana functions as a manual of applied religious practice alongside its many other subject areas.
Offering customary upacāras to Hari with the mūla-mantra is treated as a complete, mantra-sanctified act of devotion that purifies the worshipper and directs the merit (puṇya) specifically toward Viṣṇu as the intended recipient.