Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 12
Chapter 279 — सिद्धौषधानि (Siddhauṣadhāni, “Perfected Medicines”) — Colophon/Closure
हरिगोद्विजचन्द्रार्कसुरादीन् प्रतिपूज्य च शृणु मन्त्रमिमं विद्वन् भेषजारम्भमाचरेत्
harigodvijacandrārkasurādīn pratipūjya ca śṛṇu mantramimaṃ vidvan bheṣajārambhamācaret
بعد أن تُؤدَّى العبادة على الوجه اللائق لهاري (فيشنو)، وللبقرة، وللثنائيّ الولادة (البراهمة)، وللقمر، وللشمس، وللآلهة وسواهم، فاستمع أيها العالِم إلى هذا المانترا؛ ثم ينبغي الشروع في بدء المعالجة الدوائية.
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s didactic frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Begin medical treatment with a protective/auspicious preliminaries (maṅgala-pūjā) and mantra-recitation to remove obstacles and invoke healing support.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Bhaiṣajya-ārambha: Pūrvapūjā and Mantra before Treatment","lookup_keywords":["bhaiṣajya-ārambha","pūjā-vidhi","maṅgala","rakṣā-mantra","cikitsā-pravṛtti"],"quick_summary":"Before commencing a course of medicine, perform auspicious worship (Hari, cow, brāhmaṇas, luminaries, devas) and then recite the prescribed mantra to sanctify the treatment and protect the patient."}
Concept: Cikitsā is strengthened by saṅkalpa, śuddhi, and daivavyapāśraya (spiritual support) alongside rational therapy.
Application: Use a brief, consistent pre-treatment rite/mantra to center practitioner and patient, framing medicine as dharmic and protected work.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Bheṣaja-vidhi / Medicinal rites and remedies)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A physician-priest begins treatment: offering water/flowers, honoring a cow and brāhmaṇas, with Sun and Moon symbolically present, then reciting a mantra over medicines.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, warm earthy palette, physician-sage in white dhoti performing maṅgala-pūjā before a medicine bowl, cow and brāhmaṇa seated, stylized Sun and Moon discs above, sacred lamps, flat iconic composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central Hari as auspicious witness with gold leaf halo, physician offering flowers near a medicine vessel, cow and brāhmaṇa at sides, rich ornaments, embossed gold work, temple-lamp glow","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, delicate lines and soft shading, instructional scene of pre-treatment worship: physician reciting mantra, labeled ritual items (water pot, flowers, medicine), calm domestic clinic setting","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed courtly clinic: hakim-like vaidya with Sanskrit manuscript, cow and learned brāhmaṇa present, attendants holding medicine tray, sun/moon motifs in border, fine textiles and architectural niche"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: हरिगोद्विजचन्द्रार्कसुरादीन् = हरि+गो+द्विज+चन्द्र+अर्क+सुर+आदीन् (समास/समुच्चय); मन्त्रमिमं = मन्त्रम्+इमम्; भेषजारम्भमाचरेत् = भेषज-आरम्भम्+आचरेत्
Related Themes: Agni Purana 279.13 (rakṣā-mantra); Agni Purana 279.14 (medicine as rasāyana/amṛta analogy)
FAQs
It prescribes the preliminary rite for medical practice: worship/propitiation of key sacred entities (Hari, cow, brāhmaṇas, Moon, Sun, devas) followed by recitation/listening of a mantra before commencing treatment (bheṣajārambha).
It integrates Ayurveda (therapeutics) with ritual protocol (pūjā and mantra), showing how the Agni Purāṇa treats medicine not only as technique but as a dharmic, sanctified practice embedded in broader religious observance.
By beginning healing with worship and mantra, the act of treatment is framed as purified and divinely aligned—seeking auspiciousness, removal of obstacles, and merit through honoring devas, brāhmaṇas, and sacred cosmic powers (Sun and Moon).