Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 23
Chapter 347: One-syllable Appellations (एकाक्षराभिधानम्)
कुष्माण्डाय एकदन्तत्रिपुरान्तकाय श्यामदन्तविकटहरहासाय लम्बनाशाननाय पद्मदंष्ट्राय मेघोल्काय धूमोल्काय वक्रतुण्दाय विघ्नेश्वराय विकटोत्कटाय गजेन्द्रगमनाय भुजगेन्द्रहाराय शशाङ्कधराय गणाधिपतये स्वाहा एतैर् मनुभिः स्वाहान्तैः पूज्य तिलहोमादिनार्थभाक् काद्यैर् वा वीजसंयुक्तैस्तैर् आद्यैश् च नमो ऽन्तकैः
kuṣmāṇḍāya ekadantatripurāntakāya śyāmadantavikaṭaharahāsāya lambanāśānanāya padmadaṃṣṭrāya megholkāya dhūmolkāya vakratuṇdāya vighneśvarāya vikaṭotkaṭāya gajendragamanāya bhujagendrahārāya śaśāṅkadharāya gaṇādhipataye svāhā etair manubhiḥ svāhāntaiḥ pūjya tilahomādinārthabhāk kādyair vā vījasaṃyuktaistair ādyaiś ca namo 'ntakaiḥ
“Svāhā to Kuṣmāṇḍa; to the One-tusked One (Ekadanta), the Destroyer of Tripura (Tripurāntaka); to him whose dark tusk and awe-inspiring laughter are terrible; to the long-nosed/long-faced one; to him of lotus-like tusks; to Megholkā; to Dhūmolkā; to the Curved-trunked One (Vakratunḍa); to Vighneśvara; to the Fierce and Most-fierce (Vikaṭotkaṭa); to him whose gait is like the lordly elephant; to him who wears the king of serpents as a garland; to the Moon-bearing One; to the Lord of the Gaṇas—svāhā.” Having worshipped with these mantras ending in “svāhā”, one becomes qualified for rites such as sesame-offering homa and the like; or one may worship with seed-mantras (bīja) joined to syllables beginning with “ka”, and also with the earlier names ending with “namaḥ”.
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the Agni Purana’s standard dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Mantra-kalpa for Gaṇeśa: svāhā-terminated mantras for pūjā and homa (tilahoma), plus alternative bīja-combinations and namaḥ-forms for japa/arcana.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Gaṇeśa Svāhā-mantra Series and Tilahoma Eligibility","lookup_keywords":["tilahoma","svāhā-mantra gaṇeśa","Vighneśvara","Vakratunda","bīja-mantra ka-varga"],"quick_summary":"Lists multiple Gaṇeśa epithets in svāhā-form for worship and fire-offering; indicates that such mantra-use authorizes rites like sesame homa, and notes alternate bīja/namaḥ options."}
Alamkara Type: Bahunāma-stuti (enumerative praise)
Concept: Mantra-śakti is activated through correct terminal (svāhā for homa), bīja-samyoga, and nāma-forms; epithets map diverse divine functions (vighna-nāśa, tejas, rakṣā).
Application: Use svāhā-ending mantras specifically when offering into fire (homa); for arcana/japa, use namaḥ-ending forms or bīja-syllable combinations as prescribed by one’s prayoga.
Khanda Section: Pūjā-vidhi / Mantra-kalpa (Gaṇeśa-mantra and Homa procedure)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A fire-altar (homa-kuṇḍa) with sesame offerings; priest chants a long chain of Gaṇeśa epithets ending in svāhā; Gaṇeśa visualized as fierce-auspicious with serpent garland and moon emblem.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, homa scene with square kuṇḍa, flames stylized, priest offering tila with ladle, Gaṇeśa appearing in aura with nāga-hāra and crescent/moon motif, epithets inscribed as decorative bands, bold outlines and earthy palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central Gaṇeśa with gold foil halo and ornaments, foreground homa-kuṇḍa with sesame offerings, priest in white, svāhā mantras suggested as gold-script border, rich temple interior","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear instructional depiction of tilahoma: kuṇḍa, samidh, tila bowl, ladle, priest posture; side panel showing key epithets (Vakratunda, Vighneśvara, Ekadanta) and svāhā terminal, soft colors","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate ritual chamber with patterned textiles, small fire-altar, priest offering sesame, calligraphic ribbon of mantras, Gaṇeśa apparition in cloud-like aureole, fine detailing"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Darbari Kanada","pace":"fast","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: lambanāśānanāya read as lamba-nāsa-ānanāya; etair manubhiḥ = etaiḥ manubhiḥ; svāhāntaiḥ = svāhā-antaiḥ; tilahomādinārthabhāk = tila-homa-ādi-nā artha-bhāk; vījasaṃyuktais = vīja-saṃyuktaiḥ; namo 'ntakaiḥ = namas-anta-kaiḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 347 (Gaṇeśa pūjā and mantra-kalpa context); Agni Purana sections on homa/śānti rites (elsewhere in ritual chapters)
FAQs
It prescribes a Gaṇeśa invocation using mantras that end in “svāhā” for fire-offerings, and states that such worship authorizes/qualifies the practitioner for rites like sesame-homa; alternatively, worship may be done using bīja-mantras combined with ka-varga syllables and mantras ending in “namaḥ”.
Beyond praise-names, it gives procedural mantra-technology—how to format mantras for homa (“svāhā”-ending), when “namaḥ”-ending is used, and how bīja-syllables are combined—showing the text’s compendium style that catalogues practical ritual methods.
Gaṇeśa is invoked as Vighneśvara (controller/remover of obstacles); performing these “svāhā”-mantras in worship and homa is presented as a means to remove impediments and to gain ritual eligibility (adhikāra) for further purificatory and merit-producing offerings.