Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 11
Vināyaka-snāna (The Vinayaka Bath) — Obstacle-Removal and Consecratory Bathing Rite
भगमिन्द्रश् च वायुश् च भगं सप्तर्षयो ददुः यत्ते केशेषु दौर्भाग्यं सीमन्ते यच्च मूर्धनि
bhagamindraś ca vāyuś ca bhagaṃ saptarṣayo daduḥ yatte keśeṣu daurbhāgyaṃ sīmante yacca mūrdhani
إنَّ إندرا (Indra) وفايو (Vāyu) ومعهما الحكماء السبعة (السبتَرِشي) قد منحوا «بهاگا» أي الحظّ السعيد. وكلُّ سوء طالعٍ على شعرك، وعند فرق الشعر (سِيمَنْتَه)، وعلى قِمّة الرأس—فليُنزَع ويزُل.
Lord Agni (narrating Agni Purana teachings in a mantra-prayoga context)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Rakṣā-mantra for removing daurbhāgya (ill-luck) from the head region—hair, parting, and crown—by invoking Indra, Vāyu, and Saptarṣi blessings of bhaga (fortune).","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Śiro-rakṣā: Removal of Daurbhāgya from Keśa–Sīmanta–Mūrdhan","lookup_keywords":["rakṣā","daurbhāgya","keśa","sīmanta","saptarṣi"],"quick_summary":"Recite a protective formula invoking Indra, Vāyu, and the Seven Sages to bestow fortune and dispel ill-luck associated with the hairline/parting/crown."}
Concept: Adṛṣṭa-śānti: misfortune is ritually ‘located’ and removed through mantra and devatā/ṛṣi-anugraha.
Application: Use in saṃskāra contexts (snāna, sīmanta/keśa rites, pūjā) as a verbal apotropaic shield focused on the head.
Khanda Section: Mantra-Prayoga and Raksha (Protective Rites)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual specialist gestures over the devotee’s head, indicating hair, parting, and crown, while invoking Indra, Vāyu, and the Saptarṣis to remove ill-luck.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, devotee seated, priest performing raksha over head, symbolic Indra with vajra, Vayu with flowing scarf, seven sages in a semicircle above, muted sacred palette, temple interior","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, central figure receiving blessing at crown, gold leaf on Indra’s vajra and sages’ halos, ornate jewelry, auspicious motifs (kalasha, lotus) framing the head region","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, diagrammatic emphasis on keśa-sīmanta-mūrdhan with subtle labels, priest hand in protective mudra, small vignettes of Indra Vayu Saptarshi, soft colors","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate indoor rite, fine detailing of hair parting and crown, hovering cloud-borne Indra and Vayu, seven sages as ascetics, delicate borders and calligraphy panel"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: भगमिन्द्रः = भगम् + इन्द्रः; वायुश् = वायुः (visarga before c); सप्तर्षयः = सप्त + ऋषयः (dvigu); यत्ते = यत् + ते; यच्च = यत् + च.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 265 (rakṣā-mantra sequence around head and senses)
FAQs
It gives a rakṣā-prayoga (protective mantra application) invoking Indra, Vāyu, and the Saptarṣis to confer bhaga (auspicious fortune) and to remove daurbhāgya (ill-luck) specifically associated with the hair, hair-parting (sīmanta), and crown of the head.
Alongside theology and mythology, the Agni Purana preserves practical liturgical material—mantras aimed at concrete human concerns like misfortune-removal and prosperity—showing its coverage of applied ritual technology (prayoga) and protective rites (rakṣā).
By invoking deities and ṛṣis as sources of auspicious merit, the verse frames misfortune as a removable impurity/inauspicious influence; the intended karmic effect is purification and the restoration of śrī (prosperity) and auspiciousness centered on the head as a locus of blessing.