Agni Purana

The Agni Purana is a Sanskrit text and one of the eighteen major Puranas of Hinduism. Quotes The god Brahman pondered over the obstructions thrown by the demon in the way of performing religious sacrifices, and behold, the god of fire appeared before him in the shape of a man of gigantic stature. The god bowed down to Brahman and all the gods humbled themselves before him as well. The god Hari took the sword Nandaka from the hands of the Fire-god, and the whole heaven was jubilant over the gift. The god Hari gradually unsheathed it out of its scabbard, and the sword, blue in colour, and with its hilt of gold, came into view. Thereupon the demon made himself endowed with a hundred hands by magic, and, mace in hand, attacked the gods in battle. The members of the demon's body, severed with the sword (Nandaka) of the god Hari, fell down on the earth and were converted into iron with the touch of that celestial weapon. The god Hari blessed those severed and hallowed limbs of the demon as, "Be you converted into weapons on earth." Ch. 245, translated by M. N. Dutt, vol. 3 (1904) There is in the intellect a sacred lotus to which every breath is wafted, and wherein it is lost. He who shall contemplate this flower in the intellect, shall find it full of splendor, beyond the collective light of many moons, and near unto the Deity. Translated by Moncure D. Conway. Reported in Charles D. B. Mills, Pebbles, Pearls and Gems of the Orient (1882) p. 115, no. 577 (under "Inner Perception") The Lord of Life (Vishnu) should not be worshipped with flowers that have faded. Those that grow in thine own garden are far better than those of any other. With the flowers gathered there must be reverence,—itself a flower. Reported in Charles D. B. Mills, Pebbles, Pearls and Gems of the Orient (1882) p. 96, no. 523 (under "Celebration and Worship") Quotes about the Agni Purana The cyclopedial character of the Agni Purana, as it is now described, excludes it from any legitimate claims to be regarded as a Purana, and proves that its origin cannot be remote. It is subsequent to the Itihasas; to the chief works on grammar, rhetoric, and medicine; and to the introduction of the Tantrika worship of Devi. When this latter took place is yet far from determined, but there is every probability that it dates long after the beginning of our era. The materials of the Agni Purana are however, no doubt of some antiquity. The medicine of Sushruta is considerably older than the ninth century; and the grammar of Panini probably precedes Christianity. The chapters on archery and arms, and on regal administration, are also distinguished by an entirely Hindu character, and must have been written long anterior to the Mohammedan invasion. So far the Agni Purana is valuable, as embodying and preserving relics of antiquity, although compiled at a more recent date. H. H. Wilson, in "Oriental Translation Fund, Volume 52 (Google eBook), Volume 52 (1840)}, p. xxxviii External links Category:Hindu texts