Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 3
Chapter 19 — कश्यपवंशवर्णनम्
Description of Kaśyapa’s Lineage
अंशुश् च द्वादशादित्या आसन् वैवस्वतेन्तरे अरिष्टनेमिपत्रीनामपत्यानीह षोडश
aṃśuś ca dvādaśādityā āsan vaivasvatentare ariṣṭanemipatrīnāmapatyānīha ṣoḍaśa
阿ṃśu（Aṃśu）亦在其中。于毗婆斯梵（Vaivasvata）之摩奴期（Manvantara）中，有十二位阿底提耶（Āditya）；而在此处，阿利什塔内弥（Ariṣṭanemi）诸妻所生的后裔，共为十六。
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the Agni Purana’s standard dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Cosmology","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Genealogical/cosmological bookkeeping: remembering the twelve Ādityas in Vaivasvata Manvantara and tracking progeny counts for Purāṇic lineages.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Vaivasvata Manvantara: Dvādaśa Ādityāḥ; Ariṣṭanemi-patnī-aptya-saṅkhyā","lookup_keywords":["Vaivasvata Manvantara","Dvādaśa Āditya","Aṃśu","Ariṣṭanemi","ṣoḍaśa apatyāni"],"quick_summary":"States the canonical count of twelve Ādityas in the current (Vaivasvata) Manvantara and notes a specific progeny-count (sixteen) tied to Ariṣṭanemi’s wives."}
Temple Type: Nagara
Alamkara Type: Saṅkhyā (numerical statement)
Concept: Time is structured into Manvantaras with stable divine offices (like Ādityas) and traceable lineages.
Application: Use as a framework for aligning myths, rituals, and genealogies to the correct cosmic epoch.
Khanda Section: Puranic Genealogy (Suryavamsha / Aditya-vamsha)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: śānta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A solar mandala showing twelve Ādityas in a ring, with a caption-like emphasis on the number twelve; a secondary vignette indicates Ariṣṭanemi with wives and sixteen offspring as a genealogical tableau.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural of Sūrya at center with twelve Ādityas around in a circular mandala, each with golden halo, stylized lotus petals forming the ring, side panel showing Ariṣṭanemi with consorts and grouped children (sixteen) in traditional mural palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore-style 12-Āditya mandala: central Sūrya with radiant gold foil halo, twelve smaller deities around, embossed gold borders; lower register shows Ariṣṭanemi family with sixteen children as small figures, rich ornamentation","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting designed like an instructional chart: central Sūrya, twelve labeled Ādityas evenly spaced, clean lines and soft shading; separate boxed scene for Ariṣṭanemi and sixteen offspring count","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature with a circular celestial diagram of twelve solar deities around Sūrya, fine calligraphic labels; below, a courtly family scene of Ariṣṭanemi with wives and many children, detailed textiles and architecture"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अंशुश्→अंशुः; द्वादशादित्या→द्वादश-आदित्याः; वैवस्वतेन्तरे→वैवस्वत-अन्तरे; अरिष्टनेमिपत्रीनामपत्यानीह→अरिष्टनेमि-पत्रीणाम् अपत्यानि इह।
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Manvantara descriptions and lists of Manus; Agni Purana: Sūryavaṃśa/Āditya-vaṃśa genealogical passages
FAQs
This verse imparts purāṇic saṅkhyāna (enumerative knowledge): the counted set of the twelve Ādityas in the Vaivasvata Manvantara and a genealogical count of Ariṣṭanemi’s descendants.
By cataloguing Manvantara-specific deity lists and dynastic progeny counts, it functions like a reference index—typical of the Agni Purana’s encyclopedic style that preserves cosmology, chronology, and lineage data alongside ritual and dharma topics.
Remembering and reciting cosmic lineages and Manvantara enumerations is traditionally treated as smṛti-saṃskāra—strengthening dharmic memory of the cosmic order (ṛta) and one’s place within sacred history.