Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 6
Chapter 22 — स्नानविधिकथनं
Instruction on the Rite of Bathing
नारायणेन संयम्य वायुमाघ्राय चोत्सृजेत् जलं ध्यायन् हरिं पश्चाद्दत्वार्घ्यं द्वादशाक्षरं
nārāyaṇena saṃyamya vāyumāghrāya cotsṛjet jalaṃ dhyāyan hariṃ paścāddatvārghyaṃ dvādaśākṣaraṃ
以“那罗延”（Nārāyaṇa）真言摄持气息，吸入空气而后放出。观想圣水中之哈利（Hari）；继而—供献阿尔伽（arghya）之后—诵十二字真言（dvādaśākṣara）。
Lord Agni (in dialogue with the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","practical_application":"Breath-regulation with the Nārāyaṇa mantra, followed by water-meditation on Hari, arghya offering, and recitation of the Dvādaśākṣarī for Vaishnava sandhyā/ācamana sequence.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Nārāyaṇa-mantra Saṃyama, Jala-dhyāna of Hari, Arghya, and Dvādaśākṣarī-japa","lookup_keywords":["Narayana mantra","pranayama saṃyama","arghya","dvadasakshari","jala dhyana"],"quick_summary":"Regulate breath with ‘Nārāyaṇa’, meditate on Hari within water, offer arghya, then recite the twelve-syllabled mantra as the core Vaishnava prayoga."}
Concept: Prāṇa-saṃyama and mantra unify attention; deity is contemplated as immanent in ritual elements (jala).
Application: Use mantra-linked breath regulation to steady mind, then perform arghya and Dvādaśākṣarī-japa with focused visualization.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Vaishnava Sandhya/Acamana-Mantra-Prayoga)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A devotee performs breath restraint with ‘Nārāyaṇa’, then gazes into water visualizing Hari, offers arghya, and begins reciting the Dvādaśākṣarī.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, seated yogic devotee with water bowl, subtle depiction of Hari within the water as a luminous reflection, arghya gesture toward rising sun, stylized temple lamp and lotus borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, devotee offering arghya with gold-highlighted water stream, faint Vishnu form shimmering in the vessel, ornate aureole motifs, rich blues and gold.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean instructional composition showing prāṇāyāma posture, then water-meditation, then arghya offering; fine linework and calm palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, riverside terrace at dawn, devotee holding arghya vessel, delicate depiction of breath practice and then offering; detailed sky gradient and reflective water."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Ahir Bhairav","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वायुमाघ्राय = वायुम् + आघ्राय. चोत्सृजेत् = च + उत्सृजेत्. पश्चाद्दत्वा = पश्चात् + दत्वा. दत्वार्घ्यम् = दत्वा + अर्घ्यम्. द्वादशाक्षरम् = द्वादश-अक्षरम् (द्विगु).
Related Themes: Agni Purana Puja-vidhi on prāṇāyāma/saṃyama, arghya-vidhi, and mantra-japa (same khanda)
FAQs
It teaches a Vaishnava nitya-karma sequence: breath-control (prāṇāyāma) keyed to the name/mantra “Nārāyaṇa,” meditation on Hari with ritual water, followed by offering arghya and reciting the twelve-syllabled mantra.
It exemplifies the Agni Purana’s practical compendium style by preserving precise, step-by-step liturgical and yogic micro-procedures (mantra-prayoga, arghya, prāṇāyāma) alongside its broader teachings on dharma, worship, and theology.
The practice is framed as purification and alignment of prāṇa, mind, and offering: meditating on Hari while performing arghya and mantra recitation is understood to cleanse impurities, steady devotion, and generate religious merit through disciplined daily worship.