Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 20
Derivation
Uddhāra) of the Sakalādi Mantra (सकलादिमन्त्रोद्धारः
औषधं विश्वरूपन्तु रुद्राख्यं सूर्यमण्डलम् चन्द्रार्धं नादसंयोगं विसंज्ञं कुटिलन्ततः
auṣadhaṃ viśvarūpantu rudrākhyaṃ sūryamaṇḍalam candrārdhaṃ nādasaṃyogaṃ visaṃjñaṃ kuṭilantataḥ
The auṣadha, the medicinal substance, is of universal form (viśvarūpa); it is called “Rudra” and is likened to the solar orb. It bears the half-moon, is conjoined with nāda (the inner sound), becomes beyond ordinary cognition, and thereafter assumes the coiled (kuṭila), serpentine form.
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Interpret/prepare a rasāyana-like medicinal substance through mantra-yantra correspondences: mapping drug identity to Rudra/Sūryamaṇḍala symbolism and specifying marks (ardhacandra, nāda) and kuṭila (coiled) transformation used in esoteric pharmaceutics or meditative visualization.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Auṣadha as viśvarūpa ‘Rudra’ with sūryamaṇḍala, ardhacandra–nāda, and kuṭila transformation","lookup_keywords":["auṣadha","viśvarūpa","rudra","sūryamaṇḍala","nāda-kuṭila"],"quick_summary":"Describes a medicinal entity in symbolic-tantric terms—universal form, named Rudra, solar-orb likeness, bearing half-moon and nāda union, entering a ‘beyond cognition’ state, then becoming coiled—suggesting an esoteric rasāyana/mantra-pharmaceutic mapping."}
Alamkara Type: Rūpaka (metaphoric identification of auṣadha with Rudra/sūryamaṇḍala)
Concept: Microcosm–macrocosm correspondence: medicine is empowered/understood through cosmic symbols (sun, moon, nāda) and Śaiva identity (Rudra), culminating in kuṭila/kuṇḍalinī-like potency.
Application: For practitioners combining Ayurveda with mantra: maintain disciplined processing and visualization/recitation protocols, treating the substance as ‘activated’ through correct symbolic alignment.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Rasayana / Medicinal-Tantric correspondences)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A luminous medicinal substance or elixir vessel depicted as a radiant solar disc with a half-moon crest, subtle nāda-wave lines, then transforming into a coiled serpentine spiral—Rudra symbolism hovering behind.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, glowing sūryamaṇḍala behind a ritual vessel of auṣadha, white half-moon above, fine nāda wave motifs, the substance turning into a serpent coil, Rudra presence suggested by trident silhouette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold sun-disc halo, half-moon in silver-gold, ornate kalasha holding elixir, coiled serpent motif at base, Rudra name inscribed, rich jewel tones.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, stepwise instructional panel: (1) viśvarūpa auṣadha, (2) sūryamaṇḍala association, (3) ardhacandra + nāda overlay, (4) kuṭila coil form; clean labels in Sanskrit.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, physician-alchemist in a workshop, a glowing orb-like medicine on a tray, half-moon and sound-wave motifs drawn on paper, the substance illustrated as a delicate spiral serpent, refined detailing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Raga Todi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: विश्वरूपम् + तु → विश्वरूपन्तु (म्+त्); चन्द्र + अर्धम् → चन्द्रार्धम् (स्वर-सन्धि)
Related Themes: Agni Purana rasāyana/auṣadhi passages (Ayurveda sections); Agni Purana 316 (ardhacandra, nāda, kuṭila motifs across mantra/yantra entries)
FAQs
It encodes a medicinal substance (auṣadha) through deity-and-cosmic markers—Rudra, the solar disc, the crescent moon, and nāda—indicating an esoteric/ritualized mode of identifying or empowering a remedy (a medicine described with tantric-physiological symbolism).
It blends Ayurveda (medicine) with mantra/tantra-style correspondences (Rudra–Surya–Chandra–Nāda), showing how the Agni Purana compiles practical healing knowledge alongside ritual and metaphysical interpretive frameworks.
By presenting medicine as aligned with Rudra and cosmic principles (sun, moon, nāda), the verse implies that healing is not merely pharmacological but also purificatory—restoring balance through sacred correspondences and thereby supporting inner purification and auspicious outcomes.