Read Agni Purana Part 2 of 4 – Agni Purana in English

Agni Purana Part 2 – Agni Purana in English – Read Agni Purana Part 2 of 4

The Agni Purana is a mahapurana. It is usually mentioned as eighth in the list of eighteen Puranas. There are about fifteen and a half thousand shlokas in the Agni Purana.

The Agni Purana is one of the encyclopedias of the Vedas. In addition to being divided into parts, this part also consists of topics of diverse nature.

It includes the art of wielding common weapons like swords, maces, etc., judicature, resolving civil disputes and criminal proceedings against offenders and using Vedic hymns for religious and secular purposes.

Observances to warn of the bad effects of porters and planets, worship methods for various deities, descriptions of the recensions of the Vedas, and ways to increase merit through giving Puranas, etc.

A number of chapters describe the Solar, Lunar, and other royal dynasties. A great deal of medical information can be found here.

In addition to human diseases and their treatment by herbs and sacred formulas, those of horses and elephants are also discussed and remedies prescribed for their cure:

The narrator of the Mahapurana, Agni Purana is the fire-god Agni.

Agni related the subject matter of the Purana to the sage Vashishtha, who in turn, passed on the knowledge to Vyasadeva who compiled it. Vyasadeva’s disciple Suta learnt the Purana from his teacher.

As to the date of this Purana, nothing can be said with certainty. It is a compilation of various works written in different periods, no single date can be assigned to the Purana as a whole.

The English Translation of Agni Purana was published in four parts by Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Private Limited, Delhi in 1954.

The present Agnipurana volume contains the Agni Purana Part 2 (Chapters 101-251) in English Translation.

This Agnipurana, like most of the other Purãnas, is of encyclopedic character. Like the first part, this part of the Agni Purana contains topics of diverse nature.

Nevertheless, there is unity under diversity. For example, Chapters 101-106 which open this part deal with the subject of architecture in relation to temple edifice, house-building and town planning.

Ch. 107-l08 describe Svayambhuva’s creation and the Cosmographical account of the Universe.

Chs. 109-116 deal with the sacred places of pilgrimage on the Ganges and Narmada as well as on the Srisaila mountain. Among the holy places, Vãränasi, Pukara, Kurukshetra, Rajagiha, Prayaga and Gaya figure prominently.

Ch. 117 describes the mode of performing ancestral rites at these places.

Chs. 118 to 120 are devoted to the description of Continents with special reference to Bharata, the sub-continent of Jambudvipa.

Chs. 121 to 149 relate to astrology and astronomy in relation to war. They also outline a number of stratagems and tantric rites for running the administration and gaining victory in war.

From the study of these and other chapters on polity, it appears that the statesman of the Agnipurana is in favour of Imperial power to be vested in the Sovereign who is ambitious for world conquest.

The ambitious monarch is asked to seek success from all quarters, especially from superpowers such as Kubjika, Camucda, Aghorã and Varadê, these being the various forms of goddess Sivà, the consort of Lord Siva.

From these topics, the Agnipurana proceeds to the description of Manvantaras (giving names of Manus, sages, and Indra for each cycle of Manu), Asramas (Stages of life), Samskaras (Purificatory rites) from birth to death (150-167)

Ch. 168 to 174 relate to atonements for various offences and expiations for sins.

Chs. 175 to 207 describe religious vows – obligatory and occasional some of which are not found in the Smrtigranthas.

Chs. 208-213 dwell upon gifts and corporeal austerities (Vratas) of pious nature.

Ch. 214 describes the system of veins in the body and their functions.

Chs. 218 to 237 constitute the discourse of Puskara to Vaistha on the king’s coronation. Appointment of assistants and the code of their conduct fortification, kingly duties policy, code of law, military expedition omens presaging victory or defeat in war six expedient rites preceding the march of the army and a hymn to Lakshmi for success.

Chs. 238 to 242 include Rama’s discourse to Laksmana on the eve of battle in Lanka on the duties of the monarch’s six expedients. four ways of policy and a harangue on the king’s statesmanship.

From these topics, the Agnipurana proceeds to some miscellaneous topics such as the description of physiognomy of men and women royal fan, bow and sword (245) testing of gems (246) site for building (247) worship of Visnu (248) science of archery and the method of using a noose (249-251).

This wide range of subjects is most interesting and informative the treatment of each topic comprising one or more chapters is lucid and unitary in expression and thought.