Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 8
Chapter 301 — सूर्यार्चनं
Sūryārcana) / Sun-worship (closing colophon only
अश्वगन्धायवैः स्त्री तु निशाकर्पूरकादिना पिप्पलीतण्डुलान्यष्टौ मरिचानि च विंशतिः
aśvagandhāyavaiḥ strī tu niśākarpūrakādinā pippalītaṇḍulānyaṣṭau maricāni ca viṃśatiḥ
وللمرأة تُصنع تهيئةٌ من aśvagandhā مع yava (الشعير)، ومع مكوّناتٍ مثل niśā (الكركم) وkarpūra (الكافور)؛ ويُضاف ثماني حبّات من pippalī وعشرون حبّة من marica (الفلفل الأسود).
Lord Agni (instructional narration in the Agni Purana’s encyclopedic Ayurveda sections)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Dravya-saṃyoga (ingredient-count prescription) for a woman—likely a guṭikā/cūrṇa/leha-type formulation context in the surrounding passage.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Formula","entry_title":"Aśvagandhā–yava yoga with niśā, karpūra, pippalī and marica (strī-prayoga)","lookup_keywords":["aśvagandhā","yava","niśā haridrā","karpūra","pippalī marica mātrā"],"quick_summary":"A multi-ingredient recipe is specified with exact counts for pippalī (8) and marica (20), indicating a measured formulation intended for women in the given context."}
Dosha: Vata
Concept: Yukti (rational combination) and mātrā (count/measure) are central to effective aushadha formulation.
Application: Use precise counts/weights when combining dravyas; do not treat recipes as purely symbolic.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Agni Purana medicinal remedies and formulations)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"An Ayurvedic preparation scene: aśvagandhā roots, barley, turmeric, camphor, long pepper and black pepper measured out with counts, being ground and mixed for a woman’s remedy.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural aesthetic applied to an apothecary scene: herbal bundles (aśvagandhā), barley sheaves, turmeric rhizomes, camphor crystals, pippalī and marica on a leaf-plate, vaidya measuring, bold flat colors","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style still-life of medicinal ingredients with gold accents: labeled bowls of aśvagandhā, yava, haridrā, karpūra, pippalī (8), marica (20), ornate border, warm saturated palette","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional layout: sequential steps of measuring 8 pippalī and 20 marica, grinding on stone slab, mixing with aśvagandhā and yava; fine lines, gentle shading","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature of a hakim/vaidya’s workspace: small scales, counted peppercorns, mortar and pestle, attendants preparing the mixture; intricate detail and naturalistic rendering"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"neutral","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: niśākarpūrakādinā split as निशा + कर्पूरक + आदिना (instrumental sense: ‘with turmeric, camphor, etc.’). pippalītaṇḍulānyaṣṭau split as पिप्पली + तण्डुलानि + अष्टौ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Ayurveda sections on cūrṇa/leha/guṭikā preparations and strī-roga/garbha-related prayogas (nearby verses in the same chapter)
FAQs
Ayurvedic pharmaceutics: it specifies a women-focused herbal combination and precise count-based dosing (8 units of pippalī and 20 of marica) alongside aśvagandhā, barley, turmeric, and camphor.
It shows the Agni Purana functioning as a compendium beyond mythology—preserving practical medical recipes, materia medica (dravya), and dosage conventions typical of classical Ayurveda.
While primarily medical, such prescriptions are traditionally framed as dharmic self-care—supporting health and household well-being, which in Purāṇic thought sustains one’s capacity for duty (dharma) and ritual life.