Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 5
Mantra-paribhāṣā
Technical Definitions and Operational Rules of Mantras
क्षुद्रक्रियामयध्वंसे स्त्रियो ऽन्यत्र नपुंसकाः मन्त्रावाग्नेयसौम्याख्यौ ताराद्यन्तार्द्वयोर्जपेत्
kṣudrakriyāmayadhvaṃse striyo 'nyatra napuṃsakāḥ mantrāvāgneyasaumyākhyau tārādyantārdvayorjapet
لإهلاك المصائب الناشئة عن الأعمال الصغيرة المؤذية (سحرٍ ثانوي)، ينبغي للنساء—وإلا ففي سائر الأحوال يُتَّخذ المحايد—أن يقمن بالجَپا (japa) لمانترتين تُسميان «أغنيَة (Agneya)» و«سَومْيَة (Saumya)»، مع وضعهما بين المقطع الأول والمقطع الأخير لـ«تارا (Tārā)».
Lord Agni (in dialogue tradition of Agni Purana, instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Protective counter-rite: japa-prayoga to neutralize harm from minor sorcery (kṣudra-kriyā) using Agneya and Saumya mantras embedded within Tārā’s initial and final syllables.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Kṣudra-kriyā-pratiṣedha: Tārā-ādi-anta-madhye Agneya–Saumya-japa","lookup_keywords":["kṣudra-kriyā","japa-vidhi","Tārā","Agneya mantra","Saumya mantra"],"quick_summary":"For undoing misfortunes caused by petty rites, a specific japa is prescribed: recite Agneya and Saumya mantras placed between Tārā’s opening and closing syllables, with a note on women’s applicability."}
Concept: Mantra-prayoga can be structured (nyāsa-like embedding) to counteract hostile ritual influences.
Application: Use a standardized protective japa protocol rather than improvisation when addressing suspected kṣudra-kriyā effects.
Khanda Section: Mantra-vidhi (Tantric/Ritual Japa and Prayoga)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A protective japa scene: practitioner seated before a small fire-lamp, holding a mālā, with a manuscript showing Tārā syllables enclosing two inner mantras labeled Agneya and Saumya.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, serene sādhaka with mālā, small flame and moon symbols for Agneya/Saumya, scroll showing mantra nested within Tārā, flat iconic forms and warm tones.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, sādhaka with gold halo, ornate mantra diagram with gold embossing, flame and crescent motifs, rich jewel colors, devotional-protective atmosphere.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear didactic mantra-nesting diagram (Tārā-ādi/anta brackets), practitioner counting beads, soft pastel palette and fine lines.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate indoor study-ritual, detailed rosary beads, manuscript with bracketed syllables, subtle flame and moon emblems, fine border illumination."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: striyo 'nyatra → striyaḥ + anyatra; mantrāvāgneyasaumyākhyau → mantrau + āgneya + saumyākhyau; tārādyantārdvayorjapet → tārādi + anta + dvayoḥ + japet (sandhi: oḥ+j→orj).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 292.6 (Agneya vs Saumya definition); Agni Purana 292.7 (application constraints; endings altering temperament)
FAQs
It teaches an apotropaic japa-prayoga: reciting the Agneya and Saumya mantras, framed within the Tārā syllable (a seed-mantra), as a method to neutralize harm arising from kṣudra-kriyā (petty/hostile rites).
Beyond myth and devotion, it records practical mantra-technology—who may perform it, what mantras are used, and how they are structured—showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of ritual science alongside other disciplines.
The practice is framed as a purificatory and protective act: it aims to dissolve negative ritual residues and restore auspiciousness through disciplined japa and the balancing powers of Agni (fiery) and Soma (cooling/benign).