Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 6
Adhyaya 314 — Tvaritājñāna
Immediate/Quick Knowledge) (Colophon/Transition
ततः सञ्जायते शत्रोस्तम्भनं मुखरागतः कृत्वा तु भैरवं रूपं मालामन्त्रं समालिखेत्
tataḥ sañjāyate śatrostambhanaṃ mukharāgataḥ kṛtvā tu bhairavaṃ rūpaṃ mālāmantraṃ samālikhet
ثم ينشأ تَجْميدُ العدوّ (ستَمبهَنا) من الطقس المنطوق بالفم؛ وبعد تشكيل هيئة بهايرافا يُنقَش «مانترا الإكليل» (مالا-مانترا).
Lord Agni (in dialogue with sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Stambhana (immobilization) via vocalized rite, Bhairava-form visualization/diagramming, and inscription of a mālā-mantra for operative deployment.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Bhairava-rūpa with mālā-mantra inscription for stambhana","lookup_keywords":["stambhana","Bhairava-rūpa","mālā-mantra","mukha-rāga","samālikh"],"quick_summary":"The rite emphasizes spoken activation (mukha) plus constructing Bhairava’s form and writing the garland-mantra as the operative seal to immobilize an enemy."}
Concept: Vāk-śakti (spoken utterance) is treated as a direct causal instrument when joined to rūpa-kalpanā (form-construction) and lekhana (inscription).
Application: Coordinate three ‘channels’—speech, visualization/diagram, and written mantra—so the rite is not merely recited but also ‘fixed’ (lekhita) and ‘formed’ (rūpita).
Khanda Section: Tantra-Mantra Vidya (Stambhana / Abhichara-prayoga)
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A practitioner intones a rite, then draws/constructs a Bhairava-form and inscribes a circular garland-mantra around it, symbolically binding an enemy’s agency.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Bhairava with fierce eyes and dark aura, mantra-garland written as a ring, priest chanting with hand gestures, oil lamps and ritual palm-leaf writing tools","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, Bhairava icon central with gold halo, mantra garland as ornate script ring, priest holding stylus and manuscript, heavy gold embellishment on borders","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean instructional depiction of ‘rūpa’ diagram and surrounding mālā-mantra, labeled segments, subdued palette, emphasis on legible script and geometry","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, atelier scene with a yogin drawing Bhairava on paper/cloth, circular mantra inscription, assistants holding ink and pigments, intricate carpet patterns"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: शत्रोस्तम्भनं → शत्रोः + स्तम्भनम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 314.7 (explicit stambhana mantra and lekhana details); Agni Purana 314.8-314.9 (battle/vaśīkaraṇa tilaka applications)
FAQs
It teaches a stambhana (immobilization) prayoga: vocal mantra-recitation (mukha) combined with forming/visualizing Bhairava’s fierce icon and writing (samālikhet) a mālā-mantra in a prescribed sequence.
Alongside dharma, polity, medicine, and arts, the Agni Purana also preserves applied mantra-śāstra—practical ritual technologies such as stambhana, including method elements like recitation, visualization/iconography, and mantra-inscription.
By invoking Bhairava through disciplined speech and written mantra-form, the rite is framed as a potent (and ethically weighty) act of ritual power; it implies responsibility, since such abhichāra-oriented techniques can bind or obstruct another’s agency.