Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 44
Ayuta–Lakṣa–Koṭi Fire-offerings (अयुतलक्षकोटिहोमाः) — Graha-yajña Vidhi
छिन्द्यात् क्षुरेण प्रतिमां पिष्टरूपं रिपुं हनेत् यजेदेकं पीडकं वा यः स कृत्वा दिवं व्रजेत्
chindyāt kṣureṇa pratimāṃ piṣṭarūpaṃ ripuṃ hanet yajedekaṃ pīḍakaṃ vā yaḥ sa kṛtvā divaṃ vrajet
ينبغي أن تُقطع الدميةُ (الصورة) بموسى؛ وبهذا يُضرَب العدوّ المصنوع على هيئة عجين. ومن أقام عبادةَ الطقس الواحد المقصود، أو حتى طقس «بيḍكا» (طقس الضغط والإيلام)، فإذا أتمّه بلغ السماء.
Lord Agni (in instruction to Sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purana’s standard narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Effigy-based abhicāra: crafting a dough effigy of the target and ritually cutting it with a razor as a symbolic strike; performing a focused single-target worship or pīḍaka rite.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Piṣṭa-pratimā chedana: razor-cut effigy rite and pīḍaka-karman","lookup_keywords":["pratimā","piṣṭa (dough)","kṣura (razor)","pīḍaka","abhicāra"],"quick_summary":"The rite prescribes making an enemy-effigy from dough and cutting it with a razor as the operative act; a concentrated single-target worship or pīḍaka (afflicting) rite is stated to yield merit (heaven) for the performer."}
Weapon Type: Razor (kṣura) as ritualized cutting implement (symbolic weapon)
Concept: Pratimā-kriyā as karma-sādhana: symbolic action (chedana) is treated as causally operative within ritual logic.
Application: Understanding pratimā as a ritual proxy and the importance of ekāgra (single-target) performance in prayoga.
Khanda Section: Abhichara-Karma and Pratima-Kriya (Tantric/ritual countermeasures and enemy-subjugation rites)
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A dough effigy shaped like a human lies on a ritual platform; the practitioner uses a razor to cut it as offerings and lamps burn nearby, indicating a targeted pīḍaka/abhicāra operation.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, dramatic fire-lit ritual room, dough effigy on a low altar, priest holding kṣura poised to cut, ritual vessels and lamps, strong raudra tones, stylized flames","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, gold-highlighted ritual implements, red cloth altar, dough effigy rendered clearly, priest with razor, ornate borders, sacred yet intense atmosphere","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, precise instructional depiction: effigy-making (piṣṭa), placement on altar, razor-cut action, minimal background, clear sequencing cues","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed tabletop with dough effigy, razor, incense, lamps, priest in profile performing the cut, fine textures and chiaroscuro"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: यजेदेकं → यजेत् + एकम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 167 (abhicāra sequences; kunda/dravya/mantra adjuncts)
FAQs
It gives an abhichāra-prayoga: preparing an enemy-effigy made of dough (piṣṭa-rūpa pratimā) and ritually cutting it with a razor as an operative act, along with a specified focused worship (eka-yāga) or pīḍana-type rite.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purana catalogs applied ritual technologies—here, image-based operative rites (pratimā-karman) used for coercion or destruction—showing its wide scope across mantra/ritual procedure, practical outcomes, and religious merit frameworks.
The verse explicitly frames the act as yielding a posthumous merit—“attains heaven”—indicating that, within this textual context, the rite is treated as a sanctioned sacrificial performance whose result is heavenly attainment.