Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 3
The Six Limbs (Ṣaḍaṅga) of the Aghora-Astra (अघोरास्त्राणि षडङ्गानि)
ॐ नमो भगवति गन्ङे कालि महाकालि मांसशोणितभोजने रक्तकृष्णमुखि वशमानय मानुषान् स्वाहा ॐ लक्षं जप्त्वा दशांशेन हुत्वा स्यात् सर्वकर्मकृत् वशं नयति शक्रादीन्मानुषेष्वेषु क कथा
oṃ namo bhagavati ganṅe kāli mahākāli māṃsaśoṇitabhojane raktakṛṣṇamukhi vaśamānaya mānuṣān svāhā oṃ lakṣaṃ japtvā daśāṃśena hutvā syāt sarvakarmakṛt vaśaṃ nayati śakrādīnmānuṣeṣveṣu ka kathā
«Oṃ. Homenaje a la Bienaventurada Diosa—Gaṅgā, Kālī, Mahākālī—la que se nutre de carne y sangre, de rostro rojo y negro: “Trae a los seres humanos bajo (mi) dominio—svāhā”. Oṃ. Habiendo repetido este mantra cien mil (un lakh) veces, y ofreciendo luego en el fuego la décima parte de ese número, uno se vuelve capaz de realizar todos los ritos; puede someter incluso a Indra (Śakra) y a los semejantes—¿cuánto más a los hombres comunes?»
Lord Agni (narrating the procedure to the sage Vasiṣṭha, as is typical for the Agni Purana’s instructional sections)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Vāśīkaraṇa/vaśya prayoga via fierce-devī mantra with lakṣa-japa and daśāṃśa-homa to obtain influence and ritual mastery (as presented in the text).","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Kālī–Mahākālī Vaśīkaraṇa Mantra with Lakṣa-Japa and Daśāṃśa-Homa","lookup_keywords":["vaśīkaraṇa","kālī mahākālī mantra","lakṣa-japa","daśāṃśa-homa","svāhā"],"quick_summary":"A fierce goddess-mantra is given for vaśya (bringing under control), prescribing one lakh repetitions followed by a tenth-part homa to attain broad ritual efficacy and influence."}
Concept: Mantra-siddhi through saṅkhyā-niyama (fixed counts) and homa-sealing; śakti invoked in ugra mode for control-oriented outcomes.
Application: As a textual example of abhichāra/vaśya methodology: japa → daśāṃśa-homa → claimed siddhi; highlights the prayoga-structure used in tantric manuals.
Khanda Section: Mantra-vidya (Tantric rites for vashikarana / abhichara-prayoga)
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A fierce Kālī/Mahākālī presence invoked beside a homa fire; the sādhaka performs lakṣa-japa with rosary and offers daśāṃśa oblations, aiming at vaśya-siddhi.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: ugra Devī with red-black mukha, wide eyes, dynamic stance; homa fire in foreground; sādhaka seated with japa-mālā; deep reds, blacks, and ochres with traditional mural ornamentation.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: iconic Kālī with gold halo and heavy gold work on ornaments; stylized flames and ritual vessels; mantra text panel; dramatic contrast of crimson and black with gilded highlights.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: balanced composition showing ritual steps—mālā, counting marks, homa ladle—alongside a restrained yet fierce Devī depiction; fine linework and soft gradients.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: nocturnal ritual courtyard, detailed firelight, sādhaka with rosary, attendants; Devī apparition rendered with intense colors; calligraphic mantra cartouche."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"fast","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वशमानय = वशम् + आनय; लक्षं जप्त्वा = लक्षम् + जप्त्वा; लक्षाहुतिभिः इत्यादि न अत्र; मानुषेष्वेषु = मानुषेषु + एषु.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 322 (mantra-prayoga/abhichāra segment)
FAQs
It teaches a specific mantra-prayoga: perform 100,000 repetitions (japa) of the stated mantra and then complete it with a tenth-part fire offering (daśāṃśa-homa) to achieve vashikarana (bringing persons under control).
Beyond mythology, the Agni Purana preserves operational ritual technology—precise counts (lakṣa-japa), completion rites (daśāṃśa-homa), and stated results—showing its manual-like coverage of mantra-vidya alongside other sciences.
The text frames mantra + homa as a siddhi-producing discipline: completion by homa is presented as what “seals” the practice and yields potency, though the intended use (vashikarana) is a results-oriented rite with ethically weighty karmic implications.