Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 17
Trailokya-mohinī Śrī-Lakṣmī-ādi-pūjā and Durgā-yoga
Protective and Siddhi Rites
विषं महिषकान्ताग्निरुद्रिज्योतिर्वकद्वयम् ॐ ह्रीं महामहिषमर्दिनि ठ ठ मूलमन्त्रं भहिषहिंसके नमः महिषशत्रुं भ्रामय हूं फट् ठ ठ महिषं हेषय हूं महिषं हन२ देवि हूं महिषनिसूदनि फट् दुर्गाहृदयमित्युक्तं साङ्गं सर्वार्थसाधकम्
viṣaṃ mahiṣakāntāgnirudrijyotirvakadvayam oṃ hrīṃ mahāmahiṣamardini ṭha ṭha mūlamantraṃ bhahiṣahiṃsake namaḥ mahiṣaśatruṃ bhrāmaya hūṃ phaṭ ṭha ṭha mahiṣaṃ heṣaya hūṃ mahiṣaṃ hana2 devi hūṃ mahiṣanisūdani phaṭ durgāhṛdayamityuktaṃ sāṅgaṃ sarvārthasādhakam
“বিষ; মহিষকান্তাগ্নি; ঊর্ধ্বগামী জ্যোতি (উদ্রি-জ্যোতি); এবং বীজাক্ষরের যুগল”—এগুলি পূর্বাঙ্গ। “ওঁ হ্রীং মহামহিষমর্দিনি ঠ ঠ”—এটাই মূলমন্ত্র; সঙ্গে “মহিষহিংসকে নমঃ”। প্রয়োগে—“মহিষশত্রুং ভ্রাময় হুঁ ফট্ ঠ ঠ”; “মহিষং হেষয় হুঁ”; “মহিষং হন হন দেবি হুঁ”; “মহিষনিসূদনি ফট্”। একে ‘দুর্গাহৃদয়’ বলা হয়; অঙ্গসহ সর্বার্থসাধক।
Lord Agni (instructing Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s mantra/ritual sections)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Durga-kalpa mantra-prayoga for protection, subjugation/confusion of enemies, and general siddhi; provides root-mantra and application phrases with bīja and astras (hūṃ, phaṭ, ṭha ṭha).","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Mantra","entry_title":"Durgā-hṛdaya Mantra (Mahīṣamardinī): Mūla-mantra and Prayoga for Bhramaṇa, Heṣaṇa, Hananā","lookup_keywords":["Durgā-hṛdaya","Mahīṣamardinī mantra","hūṃ phaṭ","ṭha ṭha","tantric prayoga"],"quick_summary":"A tantric ‘heart’ formula of Durgā centered on Mahīṣamardinī, giving the root-mantra and applied commands (to confuse, make bellow, strike/kill) using bīja and astric syllables; stated to be sāṅga and sarvārtha-sādhaka when properly employed."}
Weapon Type: Astra (mantra-astra usage implied rather than physical weapon)
Concept: Mantra as śakti: bīja + mūla-mantra + aṅga-nyāsa (sāṅga) yields targeted effects (rakṣā, stambhana/bhramaṇa, śatru-nigraha) when applied with ritual competence.
Application: Use only within a qualified tantric framework (dikṣā/ācāra, nyāsa, purity rules); treat ‘sāṅga’ as requiring aṅga-mantras/nyāsa and proper viniyoga before application.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Tantra-mantra (Durga-kalpa; protective and subjugatory rites)
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A fierce Mahīṣamardinī radiating power, with mantra-syllables (oṃ hrīṃ hūṃ phaṭ ṭha ṭha) depicted as luminous seed-letters around her; an enemy figure shown bewildered (bhramaṇa) and subdued; protective aura encircling the devotee.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Mahīṣamardinī in dynamic stance, demon/buffalo subdued, bold flat colors, flaming aura, seed-syllables as stylized golden letters around, devotee protected within a circular mandala, intense raudra mood","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Mahīṣamardinī with embossed gold halo and weapons, buffalo-demon at feet, bīja letters in gold around the prabhavali, dramatic yet iconic frontal composition, rich reds and greens, protective talismanic feel","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear depiction of mantra-prayoga: goddess at center, surrounding bīja syllables neatly placed, small inset panels showing ‘bhramaṇa’ (enemy confused) and ‘hanana’ (subjugation), fine linework and controlled palette","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, energetic battle tableau with refined detail, goddess overpowering buffalo-demon, swirling calligraphic bīja syllables integrated into the sky, enemy shown disoriented, ornate border and jewel-like colors"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"intense","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"fast","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: महिṣकान्ताग्निरुद्रिज्योतिर्वकद्वयम् parsed as a long compound ending in ‘vakra-dvayam’. durgāhṛdayamityuktam = durgā-hṛdayam + iti + uktam. Mantric syllables (oṃ, hrīṃ, hūṃ, phaṭ, ṭha) treated as Avyaya (mantra-particles).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 307 (Durga-kalpa; protective/subjugatory rites; mantra-hṛdaya context)
FAQs
It gives a Durgā-centered “hṛdaya” (core) mantra with force-bījas (oṃ, hrīṃ, hūṃ, phaṭ, ṭha) and its prayoga-phrases for protective and adversary-confounding effects, indicating use with sāṅga (aṅga-nyāsa/auxiliaries).
Beyond myth and devotion, it preserves applied ritual technology—mantra construction (mūla-mantra), bīja usage, and practical prayoga commands—showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of tantra-vidhi alongside other sciences.
Invoking Durgā as Mahīṣa-mardinī frames protection as alignment with śakti and dharma: the rite is presented as a means to remove obstacles and hostile forces, pursued under disciplined ritual observance (sāṅga) rather than mere aggression.