Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 15
Vedaśākhā-dikīrtana
Enumeration of the Vedic Branches) and Purāṇa-Vaṃśa (Lineages of Transmission
विष्णुर्जिष्णुर्भविष्णुश् च अग्निसूर्यादिरूपवान् अग्निरूपेण देवादेर्मुखं विष्णुः परा गतिः
viṣṇurjiṣṇurbhaviṣṇuś ca agnisūryādirūpavān agnirūpeṇa devādermukhaṃ viṣṇuḥ parā gatiḥ
وِشنو—جِشنو اور بھوِشنو—آگ اور سورج وغیرہ کی صورتیں اختیار کرتا ہے۔ اگنی کے روپ میں وہ دیوتاؤں کا دہن ہے؛ وِشنو ہی پرم گتی (آخری پناہ) ہے۔
Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purana narrator) speaking to Sage Vasiṣṭha (frame-dialogue attribution)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Stotra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Name-based praise (nāma-stuti) for japa and contemplation; supports seeing Viṣṇu as present in Vedic deities like Agni and Sūrya, integrating ritual worship with Vaiṣṇava theology.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Nāma-stuti: Viṣṇu as Jiṣṇu/Bhaviṣṇu and as Agni–Sūrya; ‘mouth of the gods’ doctrine","lookup_keywords":["Viṣṇu","Jiṣṇu","Bhaviṣṇu","Agni-mukha","Sūrya-rūpa"],"quick_summary":"Praises Viṣṇu by epithets and identifies him with Agni and Sūrya; states that as Agni he is the devas’ mouth (carrier of offerings) and as Viṣṇu he is the supreme refuge."}
Alamkara Type: Anuprasa
Concept: Unity of deities through the supreme: Agni as the functional ‘mouth’ of devas in yajña, yet the ultimate gati (goal) is Viṣṇu.
Application: During homa or daily worship, contemplate the offering as reaching the supreme through Agni; use the epithets for japa to align ritual action with final refuge (para-gati).
Khanda Section: Nama-stuti / Vishnu-sahasranama-style Eulogy (Devata-stotra within Purana narrative)
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Viṣṇu praised with a radiant body that alternates between a flame-form (Agni) and a solar form (Sūrya), while a yajña fire receives offerings—showing ‘Agni as mouth of the gods’ and Viṣṇu as supreme goal.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Viṣṇu with intense tejas, half the aura rendered as flames and half as sun-rays, yajña kuṇḍa in foreground with priests offering ghee, bold outlines, saturated reds/oranges for Agni.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, Viṣṇu with gold-leaf radiance, Agni flames stylized with gilded highlights, Sūrya disc motif behind head, ornate altar scene, devotional symmetry.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear depiction of homa procedure (ladle, ghee, kuṇḍa) with Viṣṇu’s luminous presence above, fine linework and soft shading, didactic clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed sacrificial pavilion, fire altar with attendants, a luminous Viṣṇu apparition blending flame and sunlight, intricate textiles and architectural perspective."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: viṣṇur jiṣṇur bhaviṣṇuś ca → viṣṇuḥ + jiṣṇuḥ + bhaviṣṇuḥ + ca; agnisūryādirūpavān → agni-sūrya-ādi-rūpavān; devāder → deva-ādeḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa 270.14 (mūrta/amūrta theology supporting multi-form praise)
FAQs
It encodes yajña-theology: offerings reach the devas through Agni, called the 'mouth' (mukha) of the gods; the verse identifies that ritual conduit with Vishnu’s cosmic form.
It bridges ritual science (yajña mechanics: Agni as the receiving channel) with theology (Vishnu’s all-form identity), showing how the Agni Purana integrates liturgy, cosmology, and devotion in compact doctrinal statements.
Seeing Agni and other luminaries as Vishnu’s forms sacralizes worship and daily ritual, directing merit toward the 'para gati'—the highest end, i.e., liberation through single-pointed refuge in Vishnu.