Puranic encyclopaedia
by Vettam Mani | 1975 | 609,556 words | ISBN-10: 0842608222
This page describes the Story of Agni-purana included the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani that was translated into English in 1975. The Puranas have for centuries profoundly influenced Indian life and Culture and are defined by their characteristic features (panca-lakshana, literally, ‘the five characteristics of a Purana’).
Story of Agni-purāṇa
General information.
This is one of the eighteen Purāṇas ascribed to Vyāsa. It is believed that this Purāṇa was originally given orally (as advice) by Agnideva to many sages, devas and Sage Vasiṣṭha. It is a vast comprehensive work dealing with every subject of importance. To give a copy of this book to a good Brahmin on the Full Moon day in the month of Mārga Sīrṣa is supposed to be a highly virtuous and meritorious deed.
Contents.
This large Purāṇa consists of about 420 chapters. It deals in detail with the following subjects: The Daśāvatāras of Mahāviṣṇu; Rāmāyaṇa; Mahābhārata; rules and injunctions relating to the worship of various gods (devapūjāvidhis); installation of idols in temples (devatāpratiṣṭhā); Svapnamantras; astrology; architecture and sculpture; Āyurveda; Viṣavaidya (treatment of poisons from Snakebite etc.); the principles of the drama (Nāṭaka) and other allied arts; figures of speech and all alaṃkāras in general; and physiology of the human body. All these subjects are treated in a detailed and scientific manner.