Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 22
Mantra-paribhāṣā (मन्त्रपरिभाषा) — Colophon/Closure
रथ्यासन्धौ श्मशाने च नद्याञ्च सिन्धुसङ्गमे द्वीपे चतुष्पथे सौधे गृहे ऽब्जे पर्वताग्रतः
rathyāsandhau śmaśāne ca nadyāñca sindhusaṅgame dvīpe catuṣpathe saudhe gṛhe 'bje parvatāgrataḥ
عند ملتقى الطرق في الشوارع، وفي موضع إحراق الجثث، وعلى ضفة النهر وعند مصبّه حيث يلتقي البحر؛ وعلى جزيرة، وعند مفترق الطرق الأربعة، وفي قصر ذي طوابق عليا، وفي البيت، وعلى زهرة لوتس، وأمام قمة جبل—تُعلَن هذه مواضع ذات قوة لإقامة الشعائر مثل الجَپا (japa) والالتزامات النذرية (vrata).
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the Agni Purana’s primary narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Selecting siddhi-prada (efficacious) places for japa, vrata, and mantra-sadhana; choosing ritual seats/mandalas according to desired intensity and liminality.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Siddhi-sthāna: Japa/vrata-anuṣṭhāna-yogya deśa","lookup_keywords":["siddhi-sthana","japa-sthana","shmashana","chatuspatha","sindhu-sangama"],"quick_summary":"The verse enumerates liminal and power-charged locations (junctions, cremation-ground, confluences, islands, crossroads, elevated buildings, lotus-seat, mountain-front) considered potent for mantra-japa and observances."}
Concept: Deśa-kāla-pātra (place suitability) amplifies mantra-japa and niyama.
Application: Choose a place matching the sādhaka’s aim: intense/ugra sādhanā in śmaśāna/crossroads; sattvic japa in clean elevated or lotus-seat settings; tirtha-confluences for purification-linked siddhi.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Mantra-japa, Siddhi-sthana, Ritual Locations)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sādhaka seated for japa, with a montage of potent locales: crossroads, cremation-ground, riverbank and sea-confluence, island, lotus-seat, and a mountain peak ahead; subtle sacred geometry around the seat.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, earthy reds and greens, sādhaka with japamālā, background panels showing śmaśāna with lamps, river confluence, catuṣpatha, dvīpa with palms, mountain peak; stylized clouds and lotus pedestal.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central sādhaka on lotus with gold foil halo, miniature vignettes around: river-sea confluence, crossroads, cremation-ground with śiva-linga silhouette, mountain-front; rich ornamentation and embossed gold.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean linework, instructional composition: labeled scenes of each siddhi-sthāna (junction, śmaśāna, nadyāḥ tīra, sindhu-saṅgama, dvīpa, catuṣpatha, soudha, gṛha, abja, parvata-agra), calm palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed landscape with multiple small scenes: sādhaka at riverbank, island, crossroads; cremation-ground at dusk; mountain peak in distance; fine architectural soudha; delicate flora and water rendering."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: नद्याञ्च = नद्याम् + च; गृहे ऽब्जे = गृहे + अब्जे (ऽ = अ-आगम/अवग्रह).
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Puja-vidhi sections on japa, nyasa, dhyana, siddhi-lakshana (same khanda context)
FAQs
It lists specific ‘siddhi-sthānas’—locations considered especially effective for mantra-japa and allied observances, including liminal places like crossroads, confluences, islands, and cremation-grounds.
By cataloguing practical ritual geography—where rites are to be performed for heightened efficacy—it preserves applied knowledge alongside theology, showing the Purana’s manual-like breadth (puja-vidhi, vrata, japa, and place-based ritual rules).
The verse implies that performing disciplined practice in potent or liminal spaces accelerates purification and mantra-fruition (siddhi), because such places are traditionally regarded as spiritually charged and conducive to transformative rites.