Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 11
Bala-graha-hara Bāla-tantram (बालग्रहहर बालतन्त्रम्) — Pediatric protection and graha-affliction management
मेषशृङ्गबलालोध्रशिलातालैः शिशुं लिपेत् फट्कारी तु ग्रही षष्ठी भयमोहप्ररोदनं
meṣaśṛṅgabalālodhraśilātālaiḥ śiśuṃ lipet phaṭkārī tu grahī ṣaṣṭhī bhayamohaprarodanaṃ
মেষের শিং, বলা, লোধ্র, শিলা ও তাল (হরতাল) দিয়ে প্রস্তুত লেপ শিশুর গায়ে মাখাতে হবে। এটি ‘ষষ্ঠী’ নামক গ্রহীর প্রতিকার, যে ভয়, মোহ ও অতিরিক্ত কান্না ঘটায়।
Lord Agni (in dialogue, instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Infant-protection and graha-śānti by anointing with specified substances to counter Ṣaṣṭhī-graha symptoms (fear, delusion, crying).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Ṣaṣṭhī-graha śānti lepa for infants (meṣaśṛṅga–balā–lodhra–śilā–tāla)","lookup_keywords":["Ṣaṣṭhī graha","śiśu lepa","balā","lodhra","tāla (orpiment)","meṣaśṛṅga"],"quick_summary":"Gives a protective anointment for infants using ram’s horn and specific herbs/minerals; intended to pacify the graha Ṣaṣṭhī associated with fear, confusion, and incessant crying."}
Concept: Rakṣā of children (bāla-rakṣā) is a dharmic duty, using both medicinal and ritual means when distress is attributed to grahas.
Application: Community/household protective practices around newborns; calming measures paired with culturally sanctioned rites.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda / Bhuta-vidya (Graha-rogas and child-protection rites)
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A caregiver/vaidya gently anoints an infant with a prepared paste; nearby are ram horn pieces, balā and lodhra herbs, mineral powders, and a protective ritual setting indicating warding off Ṣaṣṭhī-graha.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, mother and infant in a domestic shrine space, vaidya applying protective paste, symbolic graha figure subdued in the background, strong outlines and earthy palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, mother holding infant, protective deity/Ṣaṣṭhī motif subtly present, gold leaf accents on ritual vessels, paste bowl and herbs displayed, auspicious composition","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional panel showing ingredients and the step of anointing the infant, delicate shading, calm domestic setting with ritual lamp","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate household scene with physician preparing paste, infant on a cloth, attendants with herb trays, fine architectural interior details"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: मेषशृङ्गबलालोध्रशिलातालैः parsed as a copulative list; internal sandhi resolved by segmentation. भयमोहप्ररोदनम् = भय + मोह + प्ररोदनम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 298 (bāla-graha remedies)
FAQs
It teaches a Bhūta-vidyā/Ayurvedic-style protective application (lepa/anointing) for infants using specific substances to counter the child-afflicting graha Ṣaṣṭhī, associated with fear, confusion, and persistent crying.
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves practical health-protection protocols—naming ingredients, method (smearing), and the targeted condition (graha-affliction)—showing its wide coverage of medicine, folk-ritual, and applied healing.
It functions as a śānti (pacificatory) measure: protecting a vulnerable child from harmful influences (graha-doṣa), restoring mental calm (removing bhaya and moha) and wellbeing, which is treated as both a religious duty and a meritorious act of guardianship.