Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 76
Ṛग्विधानम् (Ṛgvidhāna) — Applications of Ṛgvedic Mantras through Japa and Homa
दशोत्तराण्यृचाञ्चैताः पावमान्यः शतानि षट् एतज्जपंश् च जुह्वच्च घोरं मृत्युभयं जयेत्
daśottarāṇyṛcāñcaitāḥ pāvamānyaḥ śatāni ṣaṭ etajjapaṃś ca juhvacca ghoraṃ mṛtyubhayaṃ jayet
এইবোৰ পৱমান ঋচা—মুঠ ছয়শ দহ। ইয়াক জপ কৰি আৰু অগ্নিত আহুতি দিলে ভয়ংকৰ মৃত্যুভয় জয় হয়।
Lord Agni (traditionally narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Protective japa and homa using Pavamāna ṛks; employed as apamṛtyu-bhaya (fear of death) śamana and general rakṣā in crisis rites.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Pavamāna Ṛk-japa and Homa (610 ṛks) for Mṛtyu-bhaya-jaya","lookup_keywords":["pavamāna","610 ṛk","japa","homa","mṛtyu-bhaya"],"quick_summary":"Recite the Pavamāna ṛks and perform oblations; this combined practice is prescribed as a protective rite to overcome intense fear of death."}
Concept: Rakṣā through śabda (japa) and agni (homa): disciplined repetition and offering transform fear into steadiness.
Application: In periods of grave anxiety (illness, danger, ominous dreams), undertake a regulated japa-homa cycle with purity observances, ideally under a competent officiant.
Khanda Section: Mantra-japa and Homa Vidhi (Pavamana Suktas for protection)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A homa altar blazing while a practitioner chants Pavamāna verses, offering ghee into fire to dispel fear of death.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, sacred fire altar with tall flames, priest chanting with raised ladle, smoke curling in stylized patterns, protective aura around the scene, earthy reds and ochres.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, homa-kunda with gold-leaf flame highlights, priest with ladle and ghee pot, radiant auspicious glow, ornate frame and temple lamps.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear instructional depiction of homa steps: ladle, ghee, kuśa, fire pit geometry, practitioner chanting; fine linework and labeled implements feel.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, nighttime homa in a courtyard, detailed firelight reflections, attendants holding vessels, manuscript stand nearby, delicate borders and realism."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: daśottarāṇyṛcāñcaitāḥ → daśa-uttarāṇi ṛcān ca etāḥ; etajjapaṃś ca → etat japam ca; juhvacca → juhvat ca.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 258 (Mantra-japa and homa vidhi; protective prayogas)
FAQs
It prescribes a practical sādhanā: recitation (japa) of the Pavamāna Vedic verses along with fire-offerings (homa) as a protective rite aimed at overcoming fear of death.
It exemplifies the text’s ritual-technology layer—cataloging specific Vedic hymn-corpora, their counts, and their applied use in japa/homa—alongside the Purāṇa’s many other domains (dharma, polity, medicine, arts).
The Pavamāna hymns are framed as purification-mantras; combined with homa, they function as an expiatory and protective act (śuddhi and rakṣā) that steadies the practitioner against the terror of mortality.