Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 26
Mantra-paribhāṣā
Technical Definitions and Operational Rules of Mantras
द्रव्यानुक्तौ घृतं होमे जपो ऽशक्तस्य सर्वतः मूलमन्त्राद्दशांशः स्यादङ्गादीनां जपादिकम्
dravyānuktau ghṛtaṃ home japo 'śaktasya sarvataḥ mūlamantrāddaśāṃśaḥ syādaṅgādīnāṃ japādikam
দ্ৰব্য উল্লেখ নাথাকিলে হোমত ঘৃত ব্যৱহাৰ কৰিব লাগে। সম্পূৰ্ণ কৰ্ম কৰিবলৈ অশক্ত ব্যক্তিৰ বাবে সৰ্বতোভাবে জপেই প্ৰশস্ত। মূলমন্ত্ৰ-জপৰ দশমাংশ পৰিমাণে অঙ্গমন্ত্ৰসমূহৰ জপাদি কৰা উচিত।
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, standard Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Provides defaults and concessions: ghee as standard homa offering when unspecified; japa as substitute for those unable; sets aṅga-mantra counts at one-tenth of the mūla-mantra.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Default Homa Dravya (Ghṛta), Japa as Substitute, and Aṅga-japa Daśāṃśa Rule","lookup_keywords":["dravya-anukta ghṛta","aśakta japa","mūla-mantra daśāṃśa","aṅga-mantra","homa offering"],"quick_summary":"Use ghee when no offering substance is specified; if unable to perform full rites, prioritize japa; auxiliary (aṅga) mantra repetitions and related acts are one-tenth of the root mantra count."}
Concept: Ritual practice is adaptable: when resources or capacity are limited, japa preserves the core; structured proportionality governs subsidiary mantra limbs.
Application: If uncertain about offerings, use ghee; if constrained by time/means, do japa as the main practice; compute aṅga-mantra repetitions as mūla count/10.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Mantra-japa and Homa Prayoga / Ritual Procedure)
Primary Rasa: śānta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A practitioner before a small homa fire with a ghee ladle; beside him a manuscript listing mūla-mantra and aṅga-mantras with ‘1/10’ marks; an alternate vignette shows a simpler japa-only practice for the aśakta sādhaka.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, homa fire with ghṛta āhuti, sādhaka holding sruk, side panel of japa-only seated practitioner, stylized script bands indicating mūla and aṅga mantras","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, ritual implements rendered richly: ghee pot, ladle, fire altar, gold accents on flames; manuscript showing ‘daśāṃśa’ rule; devotional shrine in background","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic split-scene: (A) full homa with ghṛta, (B) simplified japa for aśakta; clear labels for mūla-mantra and aṅga-mantra counts","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate indoor ritual: small brazier, ghee vessel, scribe noting 1/10 calculations, practitioner with rosary; fine detail of utensils"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: जपोऽशक्तस्य → जपः + अशक्तस्य; मूलमन्त्राद्दशांशः → मूलमन्त्रात् + दशांशः; स्यादङ्गादीनां → स्यात् + अङ्गादीनाम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 292.25 (japa-homa ratio); Agni Purana 292.27 (deity satisfaction through dhyāna-homa-arcana)
FAQs
It gives operational rules for ritual performance: use ghee in homa if no offering is specified, allow japa as a practical substitute for those unable to do the full rite, and set the aṅga-mantra repetitions at one-tenth of the root-mantra count.
It preserves precise procedural standards (prayoga) for mantra, homa, and ancillary aṅga practices—showing the Agni Purana’s role as a compact manual that codifies ritual options, substitutions, and numerical rules.
It upholds continuity of sādhana: even when full ritual action is not possible, disciplined japa and correctly proportioned ancillary recitations preserve the rite’s efficacy and merit while maintaining procedural purity.