Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 86
Ṛग्विधानम् (Ṛgvidhāna) — Applications of Ṛgvedic Mantras through Japa and Homa
अहं रुद्रेति एतद्वाग्मी भवति मानवः न योनौ जायते विद्वान् जपन्रात्रीति रात्रिषु
ahaṃ rudreti etadvāgmī bhavati mānavaḥ na yonau jāyate vidvān japanrātrīti rātriṣu
«مَن تلا الصيغةَ “أنا رودرا” صار فصيحَ اللسان. وأمّا العالِمُ فإذا داوم على جَپْ (ترديد) مانترا “rātrī” في الليالي فلا يُولَدُ ثانيةً من رحم.»
Lord Agni (teaching the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Japa of identity-formula (‘ahaṃ rudraḥ’) for vāgmitva (eloquence) and night-recitation of ‘rātrī’ mantra for liberation from rebirth.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Formula","entry_title":"Rudra-japa phala: Vāgmitva and Ajāti (non-rebirth)","lookup_keywords":["ahaṃ rudra","vāgmī","rātrī-mantra","japa","punarjanma-nivṛtti"],"quick_summary":"Reciting ‘I am Rudra’ is said to confer eloquence; reciting the ‘rātrī’ formula at night is presented as a means toward freedom from womb-birth (rebirth)."}
Concept: Mantric identification with Rudra (‘ahaṃ rudraḥ’) gestures toward non-dual/identity contemplation; night-japa is linked to saṃsāra-transcendence (punarjanma-nivṛtti).
Application: Use mantra-japa as both a worldly siddhi practice (vāgmitva) and a liberation-oriented discipline (regular night recitation with contemplative intent).
Khanda Section: Mantra-japa & Rudra-vidya (Rudra-mantra-phala)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sādhaka seated in meditation at night, softly chanting ‘ahaṃ rudraḥ’, with a subtle Rudra presence behind; a second vignette shows the same sādhaka reciting the Rātri mantra under stars, symbolizing release from rebirth.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, nocturnal blue-black background with stylized stars, meditating ascetic with japa-mālā, faint Rudra form with trident and crescent as protective aura, traditional flat ornamentation and temple-lamp glow","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central Rudra with radiant gold halo, devotee below chanting, gold leaf on halo and ornaments, deep indigo night field, symbolic lotus and crescent moon motifs","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, calm instructional meditation posture, clear depiction of japa-mālā and seated āsana, night setting with moon, minimal but precise icon cues for Rudra presence","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, night terrace scene with ascetic chanting, detailed sky gradient and stars, translucent divine Rudra apparition behind, fine textiles and architectural details, ornate border"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Malkauns","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: rudreti = rudra + iti; etadvāgmī = etat + vāgmī; japanrātrīti = japan + rātrī + iti.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 258 (Rudra-vidyā / mantra-phala section)
FAQs
It teaches a specific japa-vidhi and its stated fruits: recitation of “ahaṃ rudra” for vāg-śakti (eloquence) and night-time japa of “rātrī” as a liberation-oriented practice.
Alongside topics like ritual, polity, and arts, the Agni Purana also catalogs practical mantra-sādhanā—linking precise utterances (mantra) with defined results (phala), a hallmark of its encyclopedic, instruction-manual style.
The verse frames mantra-japa as both a worldly siddhi (eloquence) and a transcendent aim (freedom from repeated womb-birth), indicating purification and release through disciplined recitation.