Agni Purāṇa

The Agni Purāṇa is one of the eighteen major Purāṇas, narrated by the fire-god Agni to the sage Vasishtha. It is one of the more encyclopedic Purāṇas, covering an extraordinary range of topics.

Overview

The received text contains approximately 15,400 verses and is remarkable for its diversity of subject matter, ranging from mythology and cosmology to practical subjects like grammar, medicine, law, architecture, and even military science. It serves as a kind of compendium of knowledge.

Content and Structure

The Agni Purāṇa covers cosmology (the creation and dissolution of the world), the avatāras of Vishnu, the geography of India, temple construction (vāstu-śāstra), sacred formulas (mantras), ritual instructions, and practical knowledge including gemology, elephant lore, and statecraft. It also contains sections on dharma, pilgrimage, and the glorification of various deities.

Significance

The Agni Purāṇa is significant for its preservation of practical knowledge that might otherwise have been lost. It served as an encyclopedic reference for Brahminical learning and has been used as a source for the study of ancient Indian science, technology, and social practices.

Verification Notes

• Classified as a Mahāpurāṇa; the received text may be a later compilation drawing on multiple sources.
• Audited against Wikipedia (September 2026).