Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 15
Bala-graha-hara Bāla-tantram (बालग्रहहर बालतन्त्रम्) — Pediatric protection and graha-affliction management
बलिः पूर्वैव मत्स्याद्यैर् धूपलेपे च हिङ्गुला वचासिद्धर्थलशुनैश्चोर्ध्वग्राही महाग्रही
baliḥ pūrvaiva matsyādyair dhūpalepe ca hiṅgulā vacāsiddharthalaśunaiścordhvagrāhī mahāgrahī
Zuerst soll ein bali‑Opfer mit Fisch und dergleichen dargebracht werden; und für Räucherung und schützendes Bestreichen wird hīṅgulā (Zinnober) verordnet, zusammen mit vacā (Kalmus), siddhārtha (weißem Senf) und Knoblauch—für den von den Grahas des «Aufwärts‑Ergreifens» und des «Groß‑Ergreifens» Befallenen.
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s encyclopedic teachings)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Therapeutic-ritual protocol for graha-bādhā: bali offering first, then dhūpa (fumigation) and lepa (smearing/unction) using hingulā and pungent protective herbs for specific grahas (ūrdhvagrāhī, mahāgrāhī).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Bali–dhūpa–lepa krama for Ūrdhvagrāhī and Mahāgrāhī grahas","lookup_keywords":["bali matsyādi","hingulā dhūpa lepa","vacā siddhārtha laśuna","ūrdhvagrāhī","mahāgrāhī"],"quick_summary":"Prescribes a sequence: offer bali (fish etc.), then apply fumigation and smearing using cinnabar with vacā, white mustard, and garlic to counter upward-seizing and great-seizing graha afflictions."}
Concept: Upāya-bheda: combining dravya-cikitsā (substances) with śānti-karma (appeasement rites) for unseen afflictions.
Application: Integrate behavioral/ritual steps (bali) with sensory interventions (smell/unction) to address community-understood etiologies of illness.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda / Bhaiṣajya-Kalpa (Therapeutics; Graha-roga and protective rites)
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual-physician prepares a bali offering of fish and sets it aside; nearby, a brazier emits fumigation while a paste is mixed from hingulā, vacā, white mustard, and garlic for protective smearing.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, ritual corner with lamp and brazier, bowls of red hingulā and herbs, bali plate with fish, priest-vaidya in traditional attire, strong outlines and flat color fields, protective yantra-like motifs subtly in background.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, richly ornamented altar scene, gold-leaf highlights on bali plate and vessels, vivid red hingulā paste, priest applying lepa, symmetrical composition with decorative borders.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic layout showing sequence: (1) bali with matsya-ādi, (2) dhūpa, (3) lepa preparation; fine lines, soft gradients, labeled ingredients in small cartouches.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtyard ritual with attendants, detailed depiction of fish offering, mortar-and-pestle mixing garlic and mustard, red cinnabar paste, smoke curling from brazier, naturalistic faces and textiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: pūrvaiva = पूर्वा + एव; matsyādyaiḥ = मत्स्य-आद्यैः; dhūpalepe = धूप-लेपे (loc. dual); vacāsiddharthalaśunaiḥ = वचा-सिद्धार्थ-लशुनैः; vacāsiddharthalaśunaiścordhvagrāhī = ... + च + ऊर्ध्वग्राही.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 298 (bali, dhūpa, lepa for graha-roga)
FAQs
It prescribes a combined ritual-therapeutic protocol: a bali offering (including fish-type items) plus protective fumigation (dhūpa) and smearing/anointing (lepa) using hiṅgulā (cinnabar) and aromatics/antimicrobials like vacā, mustard, and garlic for graha-type afflictions.
It blends ritual procedure (bali, dhūpa, lepa) with materia medica (hiṅgulā, vacā, siddhārtha, laśuna) and disease/affliction taxonomy (ūrdhvagrāhī, mahāgrahī), illustrating the text’s cross-disciplinary coverage of religion, healing, and applied protective practices.
By propitiating and pacifying harmful grahas through bali and purificatory applications, the practitioner seeks removal of obstructive influences, restoration of well-being, and ritual purification—framing healing as both a spiritual appeasement and a practical remedy.