Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 7
अध्याय १ — यजुर्विधानम्
Agni Purana, Chapter 259: Yajur-vidhāna
वश्यकर्मणि शाखोढवासापामार्गमेव च विषासृङ्मिश्रसमिधो व्याधिघातस्य भार्गव
vaśyakarmaṇi śākhoḍhavāsāpāmārgameva ca viṣāsṛṅmiśrasamidho vyādhighātasya bhārgava
বশ্যকর্মে শাখোঢ, বাসা ও অপামার্গের সমিধ ব্যবহার করতে হয়। আর হে ভার্গব, ব্যাধি-নাশের জন্য বিষ ও রক্তমিশ্রিত সমিধ অগ্নিতে আহুতি দাও।
Lord Agni (instructing a Bhārgava interlocutor within the chapter’s ritual discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Abhicāra and protective/curative homa protocols: selecting specific samidh woods for vaśīkaraṇa, and aggressive ‘vyādhi-ghāta’ rites using poison-and-blood mixed fuel (as stated).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Vaśīkaraṇa samidh & vyādhi-ghāta samidh (viṣa-asṛk-miśra)","lookup_keywords":["vaśyakarma","samidh","apāmārga","abhicāra","vyādhi-ghāta"],"quick_summary":"The verse assigns particular fuel-sticks for subjugation rites and prescribes a harsher mixture (poison and blood) for disease-destruction rites, reflecting the text’s catalog of tantric-ritual correspondences."}
Concept: Ritual technology differentiates aims (vaśīkaraṇa vs vyādhi-ghāta) by material selection, implying a doctrine of dravya-śakti (power inhering in substances when ritually deployed).
Application: In textual terms, choose samidh according to intended rite; ethically, treat abhichāra prescriptions as historically descriptive and subject to dharmic restraint.
Khanda Section: Tantra-Mantra-Karma (Abhichara / Vashikarana and Protective Rites)
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A darker-toned homa scene: bundles of named samidh sticks laid out for vaśīkaraṇa; a separate, ominous bundle marked as mixed with poison and blood for ‘vyādhi-ghāta’, with the priest in stern concentration.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, dramatic chiaroscuro within temple setting, priest near homa-kuṇḍa, three labeled samidh bundles (śākhōḍha, vāsa, apāmārga), and a separate darker bundle indicating viṣa-asṛk-miśra, restrained symbolism rather than gore.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, heavy gold on fire and vessels, contrasting dark pigments for the ‘abhicāra’ bundle, priest with intense gaze, ritual implements meticulously rendered, ornamental frame emphasizing solemnity.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, schematic instructional depiction: labeled samidh types arranged on a mat, arrows showing which bundle is used for vaśyakarma vs vyādhi-ghāta, clean lines and minimal background.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, night-time ritual pavilion, attendants holding bundles of twigs, physician-priest figure, subtle visual codes for ‘poison/blood mixture’ via colored markings on sticks, detailed flora rendering."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अपामार्गमेव = अपामार्गम् + एव; विषासृङ्मिश्रसमिधो = विषासृक् + मिश्र + समिधः (क् + म् → ङ्म्).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 259 (abhicāra/vaśīkaraṇa section)
FAQs
It specifies the exact homa-fuels (samidh) for two applications: vashikarana (subjugation) using śākhōḍha, vāsa, and apāmārga; and vyādhi-ghāta (disease-destruction) using samidh combined with poison and blood.
It exemplifies the Agni Purana’s practical cataloging of specialized ritual technologies—linking materia (plants, fuels, additives) to specific outcomes (control rites and therapeutic/protective aims), alongside its many other domains like polity, medicine, and arts.
Within the text’s ritual framework, correctly matched materials and fire-offerings are presented as causally effective (karma-sādhana) for producing intended results—either influencing others (vaśya) or removing afflictions (vyādhi), emphasizing disciplined, rule-bound ritual action.