Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 1
Chapter 21 — सामान्यपूजाकथनम्
Teaching on General Worship
इत्य् आदिमहापुराणे आग्नेये जगत्सर्गवर्णनं नाम विंशतितमो ऽध्यायः अथ एकविंशो ऽध्यायः सामान्यपूजाकथनं नारद उवाच सामान्यपूजां विष्ण्वादेर्वक्ष्ये मन्त्रांश् च सर्वदान् समस्तपरिवाराय अच्युताय नमो यजेत्
ity ādimahāpurāṇe āgneye jagatsargavarṇanaṃ nāma viṃśatitamo 'dhyāyaḥ atha ekaviṃśo 'dhyāyaḥ sāmānyapūjākathanaṃ nārada uvāca sāmānyapūjāṃ viṣṇvādervakṣye mantrāṃś ca sarvadān samastaparivārāya acyutāya namo yajet
至此，《阿耆尼往世书》中题为“世界创造之描述”的第二十章已告终。今开第二十一章，名为“通用礼拜之教”。那罗陀曰：“我将宣说对毗湿奴及诸天的一般供奉法，并说一切时皆可用之真言。行礼时当诵：‘礼敬阿周多（Acyuta），并礼敬其全体眷属随从。’”
Nārada
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Establishes the opening sankalpa-like intent for sādhāraṇa (general) pūjā and gives a universal salutation-mantra usable for Viṣṇu and allied deities with their parivāra.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Sāmānya-pūjā: Acyuta-parivāra-namaskāra (universal opening salutation)","lookup_keywords":["sāmānya-pūjā","acyuta","parivāra","namas","nārada"],"quick_summary":"Begins the general worship section and prescribes a universal formula: worship Acyuta together with the entire retinue, suitable as an all-purpose opening in pūjā."}
Concept: Parivāra-sahita-devatā-arcana: worship is complete when the deity is honored along with the associated powers/attendants.
Application: In any pūjā, include the main deity plus parivāra in the opening salutation to avoid ritual incompleteness (aparipūrṇatā).
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Sāmānya-pūjā / General Worship Procedure)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Nārada instructs a devotee-priest beginning a general pūjā before a Viṣṇu altar, hands folded, offering the opening salutation to Acyuta with attendant deities symbolically present.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style: Nārada with vīṇā teaching a priest before a lamp-lit Viṣṇu shrine; Acyuta in serene stance with subtle parivāra halos; rich earthy reds, greens, and ochres; stylized lotus borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting: central Acyuta (Viṣṇu) with parivāra arranged symmetrically; heavy gold foil work on crown and prabhāmaṇḍala; priest in añjali at the base; ornate arch frame.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting: instructional pūjā opening scene—altar, pañcapātra, flowers, incense; Nārada pointing to a written mantra strip 'acyutāya namaḥ'; delicate lines, soft shading, minimal gold.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: courtly interior turned into a temple chamber; Nārada as sage-musician instructing; Viṣṇu icon on a pedestal with attendants hinted; fine textiles, detailed vessels, calligraphic caption band."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: इत्य्→इति; विंशतितमो ऽध्यायः→विंशतितमः अध्यायः; एकविंशो ऽध्यायः→एकविंशः अध्यायः; विष्ण्वादेर्वक्ष्ये→विष्णु-आदेः वक्ष्ये; मन्त्रांश्→मन्त्रान्; नमो यजेत्→नमः यजेत्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 21 (Sāmānya-pūjā section continues); Agni Purana pūjā-vidhi chapters on nyāsa, āvāhana, upacāras (contextual)
FAQs
It introduces sāmānya-pūjā-vidhi: a general, reusable worship framework and an “always applicable” mantra-formula for worshipping Viṣṇu (Acyuta) together with His full retinue (samasta-parivāra).
By shifting from cosmology (creation-description) to a practical ritual handbook section, it demonstrates the Agni Purāṇa’s wide scope—moving from doctrine and narrative into standardized liturgical procedure and mantra-usage.
Worshipping Acyuta with “samasta-parivāra” expresses completeness (honouring the deity with attendant powers/forms), supporting right intention, ritual wholeness, and accruing merit through disciplined devotion and mantra.