Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 6
Pañcāṅga-Rudra-vidhāna
The Fivefold Rudra Rite
आद्यानान्तिमृणां त्रिष्टुप्छन्दो ऽनुष्ठुव्द्वयोरपि उत्तरगोनस इति ज , ट च छन्दस्त्रिष्टुभमन्त्यायाः पुरुषो ऽस्यापि देषता
ādyānāntimṛṇāṃ triṣṭupchando 'nuṣṭhuvdvayorapi uttaragonasa iti ja , ṭa ca chandastriṣṭubhamantyāyāḥ puruṣo 'syāpi deṣatā
For the (syllabic groups/gaṇas) beginning with ā and ending in mṛ, the metre is Triṣṭubh; for the two patterns in Anuṣṭubh as well, it is said to be the “uttara-gaṇa”. The gaṇas are denoted by the letters ja and ṭa; the metre of the final case is Triṣṭubh, and its presiding deity is Puruṣa too.
Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purana narrator) instructing sage Vasiṣṭha
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Prosody instruction: identify gaṇas (ja, ṭa) and apply them to determine Triṣṭubh/Anuṣṭubh patterns and associated devatā assignment for recitation protocol.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Gaṇa-nirdeśa for chandas: uttara-gaṇa, ja/ṭa markers; Triṣṭubh/Anuṣṭubh determination; Puruṣa devatā","lookup_keywords":["gaṇa ja ṭa","uttara-gaṇa","Triṣṭubh rules","Anuṣṭubh patterns","Puruṣa devatā"],"quick_summary":"Explains how specific gaṇa patterns (denoted by ja and ṭa) and ‘uttara-gaṇa’ identification guide meter recognition (Triṣṭubh/Anuṣṭubh) and maintain correct devatā linkage in chanting."}
Concept: Sound-structure (chandas) is rule-governed; correct gaṇa parsing preserves textual integrity and ritual correctness.
Application: Scan verses by gaṇas (ja/ṭa etc.) to verify meter before public recitation; use as a teaching aid in chandas lessons.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Chandas / Prosody)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A prosody diagram shows gaṇas labeled ja and ṭa, with arrows mapping to Triṣṭubh and Anuṣṭubh; a teacher demonstrates syllable counting on a manuscript while students follow.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized classroom in temple precinct, large schematic of gaṇas (ja, ṭa) painted like yantra panels, teacher pointing with stylus, students seated, warm earthy palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, ornate manuscript and stylus foreground with gold highlights, inset panel showing gaṇa symbols ‘ja’ and ‘ṭa’, devotional border motifs, Puruṣa nameplate as devatā.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean instructional chart: gaṇa blocks, syllable marks, Triṣṭubh/Anuṣṭubh headings, teacher and students in calm setting, precise linework for didactic clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholar with counting beads and manuscript, marginal prosody chart with ‘ja’ and ‘ṭa’ in Devanagari, refined interior scene, delicate borders."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: त्रिष्टुप्छन्दः = त्रिष्टुप् + छन्दः; छन्दो ऽनुष्टुप् = छन्दः + अनुष्टुप्; अनुष्ठुव्द्वयोः = अनुष्टुप् + द्वयोः (पाठे ‘अनुष्ठुव्’ इति लेखदोषः); पुरुṣो ऽस्य = पुरुषः + अस्य; देषता इति पाठे ‘देवता’ अपेक्षिता
Related Themes: Agni Purana 295 (chandas/gaṇa discussion continuation)
FAQs
It teaches chandas-vidyā (Sanskrit prosody): identifying Triṣṭubh/Anuṣṭubh metre patterns via gaṇa labels (e.g., ja, ṭa) and the notion of an ‘uttara-gaṇa’ classification.
Beyond ritual and theology, the Agni Purana preserves technical śāstric material—here, the science of metres used in Vedic and classical composition—showing its role as a compendium spanning literary theory, grammar-adjacent metrics, and pedagogical mnemonics.
By correctly identifying and using sacred and classical metres (like Triṣṭubh), one preserves the accuracy of recitation and composition; such correctness is traditionally linked with maintaining śabda-śuddhi (purity of sound) and the intended efficacy/merit of hymns and praises.