The Agni Purana (Part I)

The present volume contains the Agni Purana Part I (Chapters 1-100) in English Translation. This is the twenty-seventh Volume in the Series on Ancient Indian Tradition and Mythology. The project of the Series was envisaged and planned in 1970 by Lala Sundar Lal Jain of Messrs Motilal Banarsidass. Hitherto twentysix volumes of the Series (comprising English translation of Siva, Linga, Bhagavata, Garuda, Narada, Kurma and Brahmanda Puranas) have been published and released for sale. The present Purana, like all other Puranas is of encyclopaedic character. The early chapters which open this Part describe glories of lord Visnu in his different forms. There are legends of Visnu as Fish saving Manu from drowning in the Cosmic Flood, as Tortoise supporting Mount Mandara at the churning of the ocean, as Boar slaying Daitya Hiranyaksa, as Man-lion killing Hiranyakasipu, as Dwarf cheating Bali, as Parasurama destroying Ksatriya rulers, as Rama assassinating Ravana, as Krsna beheading Kamsa, as Buddha preaching the gospel of meditation, as Kalki to slay Mlecchas. Going ahead, we find that a considerable portion of this Part deals with the Tantrika ritual for the installation and consecration of images of Visnu, Siva and other deities in their respective temples. A number of chapters relate to the initiation of a novice to the cult and the rites of initiation. The rites are described in detail. They are interspersed with the mystic syllables of Tantras which impart efficacy to the ritual concerned. A number of chapters throw light on the characteristics of images, mode of their installation and worship. Scattered here and there are the chapters on creation, on purification of oneself and others, on the positions of fingers (mudras) in worship and on scores of other topics with details not found in other Puranas. As to the date of this Purana, nothing can be said with certainty. It being a compilation from various works written in different periods, no single date can be assigned to the Purana as a whole. But, what is certain is the fact that a number of sections were written long before the Mahommedan invasion. For instance, chapters on archery and arms, civil administration and military discipline are purely of Hindu character and can claim antiquity. Chapters on medicine and grammar are also old. Summaries of the Ramayana and Mahabharata indicate that the sections were written when Hinduism was in flourishing condition and the epic tradition had become sacred. Sections on Avataras, on polity and judicature, on genealogy and history of ancient kings and distinguished personages also belong to pretty olden times. Sections on religion are also old as they seem to have been written when there was no rift among various sects. But, the Purana contains sections which are obviously later in date. For instance, a considerable number of chapters which deal with the mystic rules, mantras and ceremonies cannot claim antiquity. They might have been written after the tantric form of worship had become popular in India.