Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 43
Mantra-paribhāṣā
Technical Definitions and Operational Rules of Mantras
ततः क्रोधीशत्तण्डौ च पञ्चान्तकशिवोत्तमौ तथैव रुद्रकूर्मौ च त्रिनेत्रौ चतुराननः
tataḥ krodhīśattaṇḍau ca pañcāntakaśivottamau tathaiva rudrakūrmau ca trinetrau caturānanaḥ
ثم يُستدعى: كْرودهِيشا وتَنْدو؛ وبَنْتشَانْتَكا وشيفوتّما؛ وكذلك رودرا وكورما؛ وأيضًا ذو العيون الثلاث وذو الوجوه الأربعة.
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Stotra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Japa/arcana during Rudra-puja by invoking specific Rudra-epithets in sequence to focus bhakti and sankalpa.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Rudra-nāmāvali: Krodhīśa–Caturānana","lookup_keywords":["Krodhīśa","Taṇḍu","Pañcāntaka","Trinetra","Caturānana"],"quick_summary":"A clustered invocation of Rudra-Śiva epithets used as a name-list for praise and ritual recitation; it maps multiple functional aspects (wrath, dance, destruction of fivefold bonds, three-eyed omniscience, four-faced lordship)."}
Alamkara Type: Paryāya (synonymic enumeration)
Concept: Nāma-japa as upāsanā: many names indicate one reality approached through multiple functions (anugraha, saṃhāra, jñāna).
Application: Use the names as mental dhyāna-points—wrath (krodha) as removal of inner obstacles, dance (taṇḍu) as cosmic rhythm, trinetra as inner insight.
Khanda Section: Shiva-Rudra Namavali (Rudra-stuti / Rudra-vidya thematic section)
Primary Rasa: Śānta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A litany-scene of Śiva’s aspects: fierce Krodhīśa, dancing Taṇḍu, Pañcāntaka as destroyer of fivefold bonds, Trinetra with blazing third eye, and a four-faced Caturānana form radiating to the four directions.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, deep earthy reds and greens, Śiva in multiple vignettes around a central liṅga, Trinetra with subtle third-eye flame, four-faced form shown frontally with side faces, ornate floral borders, sacred ash markings.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central Śiva with prominent third eye, surrounding small medallions naming Krodhīśa, Taṇḍu, Pañcāntaka, Caturānana, heavy gold leaf halos, gem-like embellishments, rich maroon background.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean linework, instructional panel layout showing iconographic variants: Trinetra head detail, Caturānana head arrangement, Taṇḍava posture sketch, muted pastel palette with gold highlights.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly palette, Śiva depicted in a serene landscape with attendants, small cartouches bearing the epithets, delicate rendering of multiple faces/eyes, fine textile detail and architectural pavilion backdrop."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: tathaiva → tathā + eva; other items are mostly compound epithets listed in nominative (often dual) with conjunction च.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 292 (Śiva-Rudra nāmāvali context)
FAQs
It teaches nama-japa/namāvali usage: a structured recitation of specific divine names (primarily Rudra-Śiva epithets) as part of stotra practice for invocation and worship.
By cataloguing deity-forms, epithets, and associated figures (e.g., Taṇḍu, Trinetra, Caturānana), it functions like a ritual-lexicon—preserving theological nomenclature used across pūjā, stotra, and mantra traditions.
Reciting and remembering these names is framed in Purāṇic practice as purifying speech and mind, strengthening devotion, and accruing merit through focused invocation of Rudra-Śiva’s auspicious and protective aspects.