Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 8
Adhyaya 314 — Tvaritājñāna
Immediate/Quick Knowledge) (Colophon/Transition
लिखेन्मन्त्रमघोरस्य संग्रामे स्तम्भयेदरीन् ॐ नमो भगवत्यै भगमालिनि विस्फुर स्पन्द नित्यक्लिन्ने द्रव हूं सः क्रीं काराक्षरे स्वाहा एतेन रोचनाद्यैस्तु तिलकाम्मोहयेज्जगत्
likhenmantramaghorasya saṃgrāme stambhayedarīn oṃ namo bhagavatyai bhagamālini visphura spanda nityaklinne drava hūṃ saḥ krīṃ kārākṣare svāhā etena rocanādyaistu tilakāmmohayejjagat
অঘোরের মন্ত্র লিখবে; বলা হয় যুদ্ধে এর দ্বারা শত্রুরা স্তম্ভিত হয়—“ওঁ নমো ভগবত্যৈ ভগমালিনি, বিস্ফুর, স্পন্দ; নিত্যক্লিন্নে, দ্রব; হুঁ সঃ ক্রীং, কারাক্ষরে, স্বাহা।” এই মন্ত্রে রোচনা প্রভৃতি রঞ্জক দিয়ে তিলক প্রস্তুত করে জগৎকে মোহিত করবে।
Lord Agni (instructing Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s encyclopedic discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Battlefield stambhana and mohana via writing Aghora/Bhagāmālinī mantra and preparing a rocanā-based tilaka to bewilder opponents and sway perception.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Aghora/Bhagāmālinī battle-stambhana mantra and rocanā-tilaka for mohana","lookup_keywords":["Aghora mantra","Bhagāmālinī","sangrāma stambhana","rocanā tilaka","mohana"],"quick_summary":"Write and deploy the Aghora-associated mantra to paralyze enemies in battle; prepare a tilaka using rocanā pigments to induce mohana (bewilderment) broadly."}
Concept: Manipulation of perception and agency (mohana/stambhana) is framed as a technical vidyā achieved through mantra + material medium (tilaka).
Application: Combine written mantra authority with a visible bodily marker (tilaka) to ‘carry’ the rite into public/battle contexts.
Khanda Section: Tantra-Mantra Prayoga (Stambhana–Mohana in Sangrama / Occult War-Rites)
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"On a battlefield edge, a practitioner writes the Aghora/Bhagāmālinī mantra and prepares a bright yellow-orange rocanā tilaka, applying it to the forehead to induce stambhana and mohana.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized battlefield backdrop, priest-warrior applying vivid rocanā tilaka, mantra script floating near, Bhagāmālinī as radiant presence, strong reds/ochres, dramatic but iconic composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central figure with prominent tilaka highlighted in gold, Bhagāmālinī with ornate halo, mantra text as decorative band, gold embossing emphasizing ‘flash’ and ‘throb’ motifs","mysore_prompt":"Mysore, stepwise depiction: writing mantra, mixing rocanā pigment, applying tilaka; clean instructional panels, fine brushwork, readable labels","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, camp scene before battle, scribe-like yogin writing mantra on paper, small dish of pigment, noble applying tilaka, detailed armor and tents"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: likhenmantramaghorasya → लिखेत् + मन्त्रम् + अघोरस्य; stambhayedarīn → स्तम्भयेत् + अरीन्; tilakāmmohayejjagat → तिलकम् + मोहयेत् + जगत्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 314.7 (stambhana mantra with lekhana); Agni Purana 314.9 (tilaka for vaśīkaraṇa)
FAQs
It teaches a tantric war-application (prayoga) combining mantra-lekhana (writing the mantra), stambhana (enemy immobilization), and a mohana-tilaka prepared with pigments like rocanā to induce bewilderment.
Alongside dharma, iconography, and statecraft, the Agni Purana also preserves pragmatic mantra-tantra procedures—here, battlefield stambhana and mohana—showing its wide coverage of ritual technology and applied esoteric practices.
The verse frames the act as a śakti-mantra practice invoking a named Goddess and bīja-syllables; spiritually it emphasizes mantra-siddhi and controlled ritual power, though traditional ethics would require right intention and disciplined use of such rites.