Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 12
Chapter 308 — Worship of Tvaritā (त्वरितापूजा)
यवैर् धान्यैस्तिलैः सर्वसिद्धिरीतिविनाशनम् अक्षैर् उन्मत्तता शत्रोः शाल्मलीभिश् च मारणम्
yavair dhānyaistilaiḥ sarvasiddhirītivināśanam akṣair unmattatā śatroḥ śālmalībhiś ca māraṇam
By means of barley, grains, and sesame, one obtains complete accomplishment and the destruction of calamity or pestilence. By means of akṣa (the dice-nut seed), one brings madness upon an enemy; and by means of śālmalī substances, one effects killing.
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in compendious ritual-technical lore)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Result-oriented ritual use of specific seeds/botanicals for siddhi, calamity-destruction, enemy-affliction, and lethal abhicāra operations (to be treated as textual documentation, not a recommendation).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Bīja-dravya prayoga in abhicāra: yava, tila, akṣa, śālmalī","lookup_keywords":["abhicāra","yava","tila","akṣa seed","śālmalī"],"quick_summary":"The verse lists ritual correspondences: barley/grains/sesame for general siddhi and warding calamity; akṣa-seed for inducing enemy derangement; śālmalī substances for lethal effect—reflecting the text’s catalog of tantric applications."}
Concept: Cataloging of ritual correspondences (dravya–phala) including coercive rites, illustrating the Purāṇa’s encyclopedic inclusion of socially ambivalent technologies.
Application: As a scholarly/ritual-history takeaway: recognize these as textual classifications; in practice, adhere to dharmic constraints and non-harm principles where applicable.
Khanda Section: Mantra-tantra / Abhicara-kalpa (Ritual applications of grains, seeds, and botanical substances)
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritualist’s trays of barley, sesame, akṣa seeds, and śālmalī fibers/parts arranged before a fire or yantra, with distinct labels indicating intended effects (siddhi, calamity-destruction, enemy-derangement, lethal rite).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, dramatic ritual chamber with controlled fire, bowls of yava and tila, akṣa seeds, śālmalī fibers, strong reds and ochres, stern ritualist posture, symbolic yantra patterns on floor.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, ornate but austere abhicāra setup, gold accents on vessels, clearly separated offerings (barley, sesame, seeds, śālmalī), intense central flame, minimal figures to emphasize ritual objects.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional still-life of ritual dravyas with fine labeling, neat arrangement around a small homa-kunda/yantra, emphasis on identification and sequence rather than drama.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, indoor scene with a practitioner and assistant, detailed bowls of grains and seeds, cottony śālmalī material, subdued lighting, precise botanical rendering."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: sarvasiddhirītivināśanam → sarvasiddhiḥ + ītivināśanam; śālmalībhiś ca → śālmalībhiḥ + ca.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 308 (abhicāra-kalpa and dravya-phala continuation)
FAQs
It assigns specific ritual effects to specific substances: barley/grains/sesame for siddhi and removal of īti (calamity/affliction), akṣa-seeds for inducing enemy derangement, and śālmalī-based substances for the māraṇa (lethal) operation.
It functions like a compact technical index—linking everyday agricultural and botanical materials to specialized ritual outcomes (protective and hostile), showing the text’s catalog-style transmission of applied knowledge alongside theology.
The verse distinguishes śānti-oriented aims (īti-vināśa, protection) from abhicāra aims (unmattatā, māraṇa); traditionally, protective rites are framed as preservative dharma, while hostile applications are treated as grave acts requiring strict authorization, restraint, and accountability for karmic consequences.