Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 1
Worship of Gaurī and Others (Gauryādi-pūjā) — Mantra, Maṇḍala, Mudrā, Homa, and Mṛtyuñjaya Kalaśa-Rite
इत्य् आग्नेये महापुराणे अंशकादिर्नाम चतुर्विंशत्यधिकत्रिशततमो ऽध्यायः कर्षकादिकमिति ख , छ च अथ पञ्चविंशत्यधिकत्रिशततमो ऽध्यायः गौर्यादिपूजा ईश्वर उवाच सौभाग्यादेरुमापूजां वक्ष्ये ऽहं भुक्तिमुक्तिदां मन्त्रध्यानं मण्डलञ्च मुद्रां होमादिसाधनम्
ity āgneye mahāpurāṇe aṃśakādirnāma caturviṃśatyadhikatriśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ karṣakādikamiti kha , cha ca atha pañcaviṃśatyadhikatriśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ gauryādipūjā īśvara uvāca saubhāgyāderumāpūjāṃ vakṣye 'haṃ bhuktimuktidāṃ mantradhyānaṃ maṇḍalañca mudrāṃ homādisādhanam
یوں آگنیہ مہاپُران میں ‘اَمشکادی’ نامی ۳۲۴واں ادھیائے ختم ہوا (خ-چھ نسخوں میں ‘کرشکادی’). اب ۳۲۵واں ادھیائے ‘گوری آدی کی پوجا’ شروع ہوتا ہے۔ ایشور نے کہا—میں سَوبھاگیہ وغیرہ سے آغاز کرنے والی اُما پوجا بیان کروں گا، جو بھوگ اور موکش دونوں عطا کرتی ہے؛ نیز منتر-دھیان، منڈل، مُدرا اور ہوم آدی سادھن بھی۔
Īśvara (Lord Śiva) speaking
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Establishes the procedural scope of Umā/Gaurī worship—mantra-dhyāna, maṇḍala, mudrā, homa—aimed at both bhukti (prosperity) and mukti (liberation).","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Gaurī-Pūjā Prastāva: Bhukti-Mukti Sādhana with Mantra–Maṇḍala–Mudrā–Homa","lookup_keywords":["gौर्यादिपूजा","umā-pūjā","bhukti-mukti","mudrā","homa"],"quick_summary":"Introduces a full ritual manual for Umā/Gaurī worship, explicitly integrating meditation on mantra, construction of maṇḍala, performance of mudrā, and homa as the means to attain both worldly success and liberation."}
Concept: Integrated upāsanā yields both artha/kāma (bhukti) and mokṣa (mukti) when performed with complete aṅgas (dhyāna, maṇḍala, mudrā, homa).
Application: Treat worship as a complete system: visualization + diagram + gesture + offering-fire; do not isolate mantra from embodied and spatial ritual supports.
Khanda Section: Pūjā-vidhi / Śaiva-Śākta ritual manuals (Umā-Gaurī worship, mantra–maṇḍala–mudrā–homa)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A chapter-opening scene: Īśvara teaching a ritual manual; in front, a prepared altar with a Gaurī maṇḍala, mudrā demonstration, and a homa fire-pit with offerings arranged.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Śiva as teacher seated with palm-leaf manuscript, devotee before a floor maṇḍala of Gaurī, homa-kuṇḍa with flames, ritual vessels, traditional mural palette and bold outlines.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Gaurī enthroned as central icon with gold work, side vignette of priest performing homa, ornate arch, rich textiles, mantra manuscript and maṇḍala visible, luminous devotional atmosphere.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional tableau: teacher-Śiva pointing to labeled steps—mantra-dhyāna, maṇḍala, mudrā, homa—clean composition, fine detailing of implements and altar layout.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, a sage’s assembly where a divine teacher dictates a ritual chapter; assistants draw a maṇḍala on paper, a small homa fire burns in a brazier, delicate borders and calligraphy."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: इत्य् = इति (before vowel); अंशकादिर्नाम = अंशकादिः + नाम; त्रिशततमो ऽध्यायः = त्रिशततमः + अध्यायः; कर্ষकादिकमिति = कर्षकादिकम् + इति; मण्डलञ्च = मण्डलम् + च; वक्ष्ये ऽहं = वक्ष्ये + अहम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 325 (Gaurī/Umā pūjā details to follow: mantra, dhyāna, maṇḍala, mudrā, homa); Agni Purana 324 (preceding tantra-mantra operational rites)
FAQs
It introduces a Śaiva–Śākta pūjā-vidhi framework: Umā/Gaurī worship defined as a sādhanā using mantra-dhyāna (mantric visualization), maṇḍala construction, mudrā (ritual seals), and homa and allied rites as practical instruments of accomplishment.
By shifting from a prior chapter heading into a new, clearly titled ritual-technology chapter, it demonstrates the Agni Purāṇa’s compendium style—cataloguing manuscript variants, then outlining an actionable liturgical toolkit (mantra, diagram, gesture, fire-offering) rather than only mythic narration.
The verse frames Umā-pūjā as yielding both bhukti (prosperity/enjoyment) and mukti (liberation), indicating a dual aim: immediate auspicious results (saubhāgya) alongside purification and ultimate release through disciplined ritual practice.