Agni Purana (Ved Vyasa)
The Agni Purana is one of the eighteen major Puranas, attributed to Vyasa. It covers a broad range of topics including cosmology, genealogy of gods, legends, ritual procedures, military strategy, grammar, law, medicine, etc.
Tamas Purana·Primary Deity: Shiva·Shaiva tradition·~15,400 verses · 383 chapters·Narrated by Agni (Fire deity) to Sage Vasishtha
- Agni Purana is one of the 18 Mahapuranas, narrated by Agni (Fire deity) to sage Vasishtha.
- It contains approximately 15,400 verses across 383 chapters.
- Classified as a Tamas Purana with primary focus on Lord Shiva, though it covers all major deities.
- Encyclopedic in nature — covers cosmology, geography, military science, medicine, poetics, and grammar.
- Includes detailed descriptions of temple architecture (Vastu), iconography, and rituals.
- Contains the Rama and Krishna stories, making it a valuable Puranic summary.
- Unique for its coverage of Ayurveda, Dhanurveda, and statecraft (Arthashastra concepts).
- Traditionally attributed to Maharishi Veda Vyasa.
Structural Organization
PuranaThe whole text→AdhyayaChapter (383 total)→ShlokaVerse
Example: Agni Purana, Chapter 1, Verse 1
Key Topics Covered
Cosmology
Creation and dissolution of the universe
Avatars of Vishnu
Detailed accounts of Dashavatara
Rama Katha
Story of Lord Rama (Ramayana summary)
Krishna Lila
Story of Lord Krishna
Temple Architecture
Vastu Shastra and iconography rules
Ayurveda
Medical knowledge and treatments
Poetics & Grammar
Sanskrit literary science
Military Science
Dhanurveda — archery and warfare
Geography
Description of sacred places (tirthas)
Yoga & Moksha
Path to liberation
Important Deities
Agni
Primary narrator, Fire deity
Shiva
Supreme deity of this Purana
Vishnu
Extensively covered with avatars
Shakti
Divine mother goddess
Ganesha
Remover of obstacles
Famous Stories & Episodes
Dashavatara
Ten avatars of Vishnu in detail
Ramayana Summary
Complete story of Rama and Sita
Mahabharata Summary
Epic war and Krishna's teachings
Shakti Worship
Goddess traditions and worship methods