Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 8
The Six Limbs (Ṣaḍaṅga) of the Aghora-Astra (अघोरास्त्राणि षडङ्गानि)
त्रिंशद्वारानि जप्तानि तच्चौरेषु प्रदापयेत् दन्तैश्चूर्णानि शुक्लानि पतितानि हि शुद्धये
triṃśadvārāni japtāni taccaureṣu pradāpayet dantaiścūrṇāni śuklāni patitāni hi śuddhaye
ত্রিশটি দ্বারে জপ করে তা চোরদের বিরুদ্ধে প্রয়োগ করতে হবে। আর শুদ্ধির জন্য, অপবিত্রতায় পতিত হলে দাঁত থেকে উৎপন্ন শ্বেত চূর্ণ ব্যবহার করতে হবে।
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Apotropaic protection for thresholds/doorways against theft and a peculiar śuddhi/prāyaścitta use of ‘white tooth-scrapings’ as a purificatory substance after impurity.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Dvāra-Japa (Thirty Thresholds) for Anti-Theft and Tooth-White Powder Śuddhi","lookup_keywords":["dvāra-japa","trīṃśad-dvāra","caura-nivāraṇa","śuddhi","danta-cūrṇa"],"quick_summary":"Prescribes reciting the mantra at thirty doorways as a protective boundary against thieves, and mentions a purificatory use of white tooth-derived powder for cleansing after a fall into impurity."}
Concept: Śuddhi is restored through prescribed acts and substances; liminal spaces (doorways) are treated as key points for rakṣā.
Application: Implements household/compound protection by threshold-recitation and provides an expiatory/purificatory adjunct for states of defilement.
Khanda Section: Prāyaścitta & Śuddhi-vidhi (Purification rites / expiations)
Primary Rasa: bhayānaka
Secondary Rasa: śānta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A practitioner moves from doorway to doorway reciting a mantra, marking protective boundaries; separately, a small bowl holds fine white powder associated with purification after impurity.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: stylized house/temple corridor with multiple doorframes, priest reciting with japamālā, protective yantra-like marks on lintels; a small inset shows a white powder bowl for śuddhi.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: ornate doorway arches with gold accents, priest applying protective marks, rich colors; inset panel with ritual vessels and a small heap of white powder labeled for purification.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: instructional sequence—thirty doorways shown as numbered frames, practitioner at each; separate diagram of purification materials including the white powder, clean lines and captions.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: mansion with many doorways, a ritualist walking and chanting, attendants following; fine architectural detail, a small still-life of ritual powders and vessels."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तच्चौरेषु = तत् + चौरेषु; दन्तैश्चूर्णानि = दन्तैः + चूर्णानि.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 322 (continuation of rakṣā-prayoga using mantra-charged substances and spatial deployment)
FAQs
It prescribes a protective and purificatory practice: mantra-japa performed at multiple doorways (a boundary-protection method) and a specific śuddhi measure involving ‘white powders’ (cūrṇa) associated with teeth, used as an expiatory purifier after a fall into impurity.
Alongside theology, the Agni Purāṇa preserves applied ritual technology—household protection (anti-theft rites) and expiation (śuddhi/prāyaścitta)—illustrating its wide scope from spiritual doctrine to practical, procedural dharma.
It frames purity and protection as dharmic outcomes of disciplined japa and prescribed śuddhi acts, implying mitigation of impurity-born karmic fault (doṣa) and restoration of ritual eligibility (adhikāra).