Agni Purāṇa

Among the 18 Mahāpurāṇas, Agni Purāṇa is a prominent one. It was narrated by Agni to Sage Vasiṣṭha.

Structure

It is structured as a conversation between Agni and Vasiṣṭha Maharṣi, where Agni answers Vasiṣṭha’s queries. This Purāṇa comprises 383 chapters, with more than 12,000 ślokas in total. It discusses Dharma (righteous duties), Artha (wealth), Kāma (desires), Mokṣa (liberation)—the four goals of life. In addition, it extensively covers subjects like:

• Avatāras (divine incarnations)
• Devatās (deities)
• Śrāddha rites (ancestral rituals)
• Tīrthas (sacred pilgrimages)
• Vratas (vows)
• Purāṇic cosmology
• Politics and kingship
• Duties of various castes and stages of life (varṇāśrama dharma)
• Architecture and sculpture
• Grammar, metrics (chandas), lexicons
• Ayurveda, poison remedies
• Gemology, astronomy, astrology, warfare and more.

This Purāṇa is thus an encyclopedic scripture and beneficial for readers from all walks of life.

Contents covered in Agni Purāṇa

Overview of Topics

It discusses the nature and classification of deities, establishing temples and idols, agrahāras, dāna (charitable giving), performance of marriage, vratas (vows), rituals, upanayanam (sacred thread ceremony), daily duties and actions, rules for temple construction, sculpture and painting, city planning, house construction, water tanks, wells, bridges, forts, astrology, omens, interpretation of dreams, physiognomy, temple architecture, statecraft, and duties of kings. It also includes law and order, criminal justice, military sciences, military formations and strategies, governance, foreign diplomacy, duties of ambassadors, spies, messengers, codes for state officials, and training of soldiers. In addition, it gives detailed descriptions of yāgas and homas, the various mantras, and methods of purification.

1–50 Adhyāyas

These chapters describe the greatness of Viṣṇu, his various incarnations and divine forms, pilgrimage sites, modes of worship, temples, vratas and festivals related to Viṣṇu. They also present a summary of the Rāmāyaṇa, followed by narratives of Śiva and Devī, including their forms, related pilgrimages and procedures for worship. In addition, these chapters explain the process of creation, the cycles of dissolution, stories of Skanda and Sūrya, cosmology, the nature of time, measurement of units, and descriptions of various deities, worlds, and sages. They elaborate on śrāddha karma, the law of karma, and rituals associated with dharma.

50–100 Adhyāyas

These chapters explain various purification rituals, duties of women, signs and features of temples, sculptures, characteristics of images, auspicious times and rituals for installing deities, construction of vimānas and other temple features, installation of Śiva liṅgas, and rules regarding bathing, mantra śuddhi, dīkṣa, and related customs. It also includes the worship of Lakṣmī, the greatness of Gaṅgā, origin of tirthas, locations of tīrthas, śrāddha karma, oblations to ancestors, fasting rituals, charity, donation of cows and gold, offering food, and the benefits of such acts. There is also discussion on the greatness of Sāvitrī, marriage customs, and śrāddhas performed in the presence of the Śiva liṅga.

100–150 Adhyāyas

These chapters explain various dharmas such as pitṛ dharma, niyamās for celibacy, marriage rituals, vanaprastha and sanyāsa dharmas, the greatness of Puruṣasūkta, daily dharmas, brief details about Rāmāyaṇa and Mahābhārata, weapons, warfare, types of chariots, elephant divisions, battle formations, soldier classifications, types of armies and strategic deployment, fort building, city defenses, duties of guards, construction of walls and moats, organization of military camps, defense of cities during wartime, and the administrative hierarchy in kingdoms.

150–200 Adhyāyas

These chapters cover various śāstric topics such as lexicography, chandas (Vedic meter), astrology, grammar, omens, and dream interpretation. They describe bodily characteristics and signs (sāmudrika lakṣaṇas), ideal conduct in society, and the duties of different castes and life stages. Also included are rituals for planetary appeasement (navagraha śānti), rules of temple construction, and consecration of idols. The chapters present both philosophical and practical knowledge meant for spiritual progress and harmonious living.

200–250 Adhyāyas

These chapters describe the greatness of mantras, philosophical doctrines, śraddhā and vratas, stories of great devotees, greatness of tīrthas, the stories of kings and sages, hymns to deities, spiritual practices, devotion to Śrī Kṛṣṇa, significance of Kāmya karmas (desire-based rituals), tales of devotees like Gajendra and Dhruva, and the greatness of devotion over mere ritual knowledge. It also discusses jñāna (knowledge), vairāgya (detachment), and the greatness of the names of Bhagavān.

250–300 Adhyāyas

These chapters elaborate upon the different types of dānas (charity), duties of different varṇas (castes) and āśramas (stages of life), the nature of various deities, importance of worship, meditation techniques, praise of various forms of God, yajñas (sacrificial rituals), procedures for installation of images, royal responsibilities, science of building cities and fortresses, rules of governance, punishments and legal codes, signs of good and bad omens, cosmological structures, classification of hells, the results of actions, and various types of purificatory and expiatory rites. It also includes many moral teachings and instructions on family, brahmacarya, gṛhastha, vānaprastha and sanyāsa dharmas.

300–350 Adhyāyas

These chapters focus on sāmudrika śāstra (physiognomy), dream interpretation, omens, auspicious and inauspicious characteristics of time and place, identification of precious gems, knowledge of portents, rituals related to antidotes and protections from poison, proper ways to establish idols, rituals for planetary pacification (navagraha śānti), and knowledge of purificatory ceremonies. It also includes astrological discussions on rāśis, grahas and nakṣatras, and their influence on life. These chapters serve as a detailed manual of dharma and ritual practice.

350–383 Adhyāyas

These final chapters describe the installation procedures of Śiva liṅgas, various types of liṅga consecrations, forms of Śiva, methods of Śiva worship, meditation on Śiva, the importance of mantra japa, construction of maṇḍapas, rules for mantra repetition, modes of meditation, greatness of tīrthas, vows related to Śiva, discussion on religious codes, philosophical questions and answers, śānti karmas (rituals for peace), and methods for resolving doshas (defects). These chapters also provide rituals for expiation and upliftment of the soul, concluding with a summary of dharmic teachings.

Conclusion, Importance of Reading the Agni Purāṇa

Whoever recites daily the Agni Purāṇa, along with other important scriptures like Śrī Rāmāyaṇa, Garuḍa Purāṇa, and Viṣṇu Purāṇa, attains the fruits of dharma, artha, and kāma.

The Agni Purāṇa is filled with spiritual knowledge, covering Viṣṇu, Śiva, Gaṇapati, Devī, Gaṅgā, and other deities, along with dharmas of kings, politics, sculpture, architecture, arts, military science, astrology, and medicine.

Especially for the Telugu people, this Purāṇa has gained significance through the commentary of Brahmaśrī Samavedam Śanmukha Śarma garu. He simplified the complex concepts in an understandable manner for householders, youth, students, and aspirants alike, and presented it in lucid Telugu with bhakti and tattva.

By reading or listening to this Purāṇa with devotion, one gains not only scriptural knowledge but also clarity on how to lead a dhārmic life. It is thus beneficial for all.