Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 17
The Six Limbs (Ṣaḍaṅga) of the Aghora-Astra (अघोरास्त्राणि षडङ्गानि)
ॐ क्षुंसः वषट् महामृत्युञ्जयो मन्त्रो जप्याद्धोमाच्च पुष्टिकृत् ॐ हंसः ह्रूं हूं स ह्रः सौंः मृतसञ्जीवनी विद्यां अष्टार्णा जयकृद्रणे
oṃ kṣuṃsaḥ vaṣaṭ mahāmṛtyuñjayo mantro japyāddhomācca puṣṭikṛt oṃ haṃsaḥ hrūṃ hūṃ sa hraḥ sauṃḥ mṛtasañjīvanī vidyāṃ aṣṭārṇā jayakṛdraṇe
মহামৃত্যুঞ্জয় মন্ত্ৰ—“ওঁ ক্ষুংসঃ বষট্”—জপ আৰু হোম কৰিব লাগে; ই পুষ্টি আৰু বল বৃদ্ধি কৰে। তদ্ৰূপ “ওঁ হংসঃ হ্ৰূঁ হূঁ স হ্ৰঃ সৌঁঃ” ই অষ্টাক্ষৰ মৃতসঞ্জীৱনী বিদ্যা, যি ৰণত জয় দিয়ে।
Lord Agni (narrating mantra-prayoga to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s dialogic frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Japa and homa of Mahāmṛtyuñjaya for puṣṭi (strength/nourishment) and use of Mṛtasañjīvanī eight-syllable vidyā for victory in battle.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Mantra","entry_title":"Mahāmṛtyuñjaya (kṣuṃsaḥ vaṣaṭ) and Aṣṭārṇā Mṛtasañjīvanī Vidyā","lookup_keywords":["Mahāmṛtyuñjaya","homa","puṣṭikṛt","Mṛtasañjīvanī","aṣṭārṇa"],"quick_summary":"Recite and offer Mahāmṛtyuñjaya in fire for strengthening; employ the eight-syllabled Mṛtasañjīvanī vidyā as a victory-bestowing battle-mantra."}
Concept: Mantra gains force through repetition (japa) and oblation (homa), yielding both worldly (jaya, puṣṭi) and protective outcomes.
Application: Use as a protective daily/occasional rite: japa for steadiness, homa for intensified sankalpa and communal protection.
Khanda Section: Mantra-vidya (Tantric and protective rites within Agni Purana’s ritual-encyclopedic sections)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A fire-altar scene: a sādhaka performs homa while chanting Mahāmṛtyuñjaya; beside him a warrior receives blessing with the Mṛtasañjīvanī vidyā for victory.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: glowing homa fire, Rudra/Śiva presence as subtle aura; priest in white with ladle; warrior with shield at the edge; mantra syllables as decorative bands around the scene.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: central homa-kuṇḍa with gold highlights; Śiva as Mahāmṛtyuñjaya with ornate halo; priest offering ghee; warrior kneeling for jaya-āśīrvāda; rich jewel tones.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clear depiction of homa procedure—altar, ladle, offerings; side panel with the two mantras written; calm instructional composition with refined shading.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: courtly pavilion with a small sacred fire; learned priest chanting; a commander receiving a protective talisman/mantra instruction; delicate flames and calligraphy cartouches."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"solemn","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: जप्याद्धोमाच्च = जप्यात् + होमात् + च. मृतसञ्जीवनी विद्यां = मृतसञ्जीवनी + विद्याम्. जयकृद्रणे = जयकृत् + रणे.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 322 (mantra-vidyā and īśāna-mantra cluster)
FAQs
It prescribes mantra-prayoga: performing japa (repetition) and homa (fire-offering) of Mahāmṛtyuñjaya for puṣṭi (strength and nourishment), and using the eight-syllabled Mṛtasañjīvanī Vidyā as a victory-conferring protective mantra.
It exemplifies the Agni Purana’s practical manual-like coverage by giving deployable ritual technology—specific bīja-mantras, their mode of application (japa and homa), and targeted results (strengthening, life-protection, and battlefield victory).
The verse frames mantra and homa as purificatory, life-preserving disciplines: Mahāmṛtyuñjaya is oriented toward overcoming death-fear and sustaining vitality, while Mṛtasañjīvanī is presented as a dharmic protective aid that removes adversity and supports righteous success.