Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 6
The Six Limbs (Ṣaḍaṅga) of the Aghora-Astra (अघोरास्त्राणि षडङ्गानि)
महाभयेषु सर्वेषु स्मर्तव्यं हरपूजितं लक्षं जप्त्वा तिलैर् होमः सिद्ध्येदुद्धरकं शृणु
mahābhayeṣu sarveṣu smartavyaṃ harapūjitaṃ lakṣaṃ japtvā tilair homaḥ siddhyeduddharakaṃ śṛṇu
সকলো মহাভয়ত হৰ (শিৱ) পূজিত সেই মন্ত্ৰ/বিধি স্মৰণীয়। এক লক্ষ জপ কৰি তিলৰে হোম কৰিলে সিদ্ধি হয়; এতিয়া উদ্ধাৰক শুনা।
Lord Agni (in instruction to Sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Crisis-protection protocol: smaraṇa of the Śiva-approved rite/mantra, japa to a fixed count, then tilahoma to obtain siddhi; introduces an uddhāraka (deliverance) rite.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Mahābhaya-Rakṣā: Lakṣa-Japa and Tila-Homa for Siddhi (Uddhāraka)","lookup_keywords":["mahābhaya","lakṣa-japa","tila-homa","siddhi","uddhāraka"],"quick_summary":"For great dangers, remember the Śiva-worshipped mantra/rite; complete 100,000 recitations and perform sesame oblations to secure accomplishment and protective deliverance."}
Concept: Siddhi arises from regulated practice: smaraṇa (mental anchoring), saṅkhyā-niyama (fixed japa count), and homa (ritual sealing).
Application: Gives a reproducible ritual workflow for protection in crises, emphasizing completion (lakṣa) and a standard oblation substance (tila).
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Mantra-prayoga (Protective rites and remedial ritual applications)
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: vīra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A practitioner in a time of danger performs lakṣa-japa with a rosary, then offers sesame into a sacred fire, invoking a Śiva-sanctioned protective rite called Uddhāraka.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, ritualist seated near homa-kuṇḍa, black sesame and ladle, Śiva icon faintly above as witness, stylized flames, minimal depth, strong contours.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, homa scene with gold-leaf flames and ornate altar, practitioner with japamālā, sesame bowl, Śiva lingam in the background, rich jewel tones and embossed detailing.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style instructional panel: left—japa count marked as ‘100,000’; right—tila-homa steps with labeled implements (sruva, kuṇḍa, tila), fine lines and soft shading.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature of a courtyard fire-rite, meticulous depiction of vessels and sesame, a calligraphed cartouche reading ‘uddhāraka’, attendants watching, delicate borders."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सिद्ध्येदुद्धरकं = सिद्ध्येत् + उद्धरकम्; तिलैर् = तिलैः (visarga sandhi before h-).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 322 (rakṣā-kalpa sequence: japa → homa → uddhāraka)
FAQs
It prescribes a remedial-protective procedure: remember/invoke a Śiva-honored mantra/rite, perform 100,000 japa, and complete it with a sesame-seed homa to obtain siddhi (effective outcome).
It exemplifies the Agni Purāṇa’s practical catalog of applied religious technologies—specific counts for japa, specific dravya (tila) for homa, and the promise of siddhi—alongside its broader coverage of theology, ritual manuals, and remedial rites.
The verse frames japa and homa as purificatory and protective acts: disciplined repetition and fire-offering are presented as means to overcome mahābhaya (great peril) and to secure divine-backed efficacy (siddhi) through a sanctioned, merit-generating rite.