Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 8
Rājābhiṣeka-kathana
Account of the Royal Consecration
राजा हरिति छ , ख , घ , ज , ञ , ट च पुरोहितमथर्त्विजमिति ख , घ , छ , ज , ट च जुहुयादमूनिति ङ वैष्णवानैन्द्रमन्त्रांस्तु सावित्रीन् वैश्वदैवतान् सौम्यान् स्वस्त्ययनं शर्मायुष्याभयदान्मनून्
rājā hariti cha , kha , gha , ja , ña , ṭa ca purohitamathartvijamiti kha , gha , cha , ja , ṭa ca juhuyādamūniti ṅa vaiṣṇavānaindramantrāṃstu sāvitrīn vaiśvadaivatān saumyān svastyayanaṃ śarmāyuṣyābhayadānmanūn
El rey debe nombrar al purohita y al sacerdote oficiante ṛtvij, y luego realizar las oblaciones con esos mantras: los mantras vaiṣṇavas y aindras, los mantras sāvitrī, los mantras vaiśvadeva, los mantras saumya y las fórmulas svastyayana, que otorgan bienestar (śarma), larga vida (āyuṣ) y ausencia de temor (abhaya).
Lord Agni (in dialogue tradition of the Agni Purāṇa, instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Mantra taxonomy for royal homa: appoint purohita and ṛtvij, then offer oblations with Vaiṣṇava, Aindra, Sāvitrī, Vaiśvadeva, Saumya, and Svastyayana formulas for welfare, longevity, and fearlessness.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Mantra-groups for royal welfare homa (śarma–āyuṣ–abhaya)","lookup_keywords":["Vaiṣṇava-mantra","Aindra-mantra","Sāvitrī","Vaiśvadeva","Svastyayana"],"quick_summary":"The verse enumerates mantra-sets used in consecration homa aimed at public welfare, long life, and protection from fear, under proper priestly appointment."}
Concept: Statecraft is supported by ritual technology: correct officiants and correct mantra-sets yield śarma (welfare), āyuṣ (longevity), and abhaya (security).
Application: For institutional ceremonies, define roles (purohita/ṛtvij) and use standardized invocations aligned to desired outcomes (welfare, longevity, protection).
Khanda Section: Rājadharma & Purohita-Karma (Royal rites and priestly fire-offerings)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A formal homa with the king and appointed priests; scrolls or palm-leaf manuscripts indicating different mantra groups; offerings poured into fire as deities (Viṣṇu, Indra, Savitṛ, Soma, Viśvedevas) are symbolically represented above as subtle emblems.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, homa scene with stylized deity emblems in the upper register (chakra for Viṣṇu, vajra for Indra, sun-disc for Savitṛ, crescent for Soma), priests chanting, king offering āhuti, ornate borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central fire altar with gold, king and purohita prominent, deity emblems in gold medallions around, rich ornamentation, emphasis on auspicious svasti inscriptions.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, didactic layout: six labeled mantra categories around the fire, clean composition, fine lines, calm faces, focus on roles (purohita, ṛtvij) and sequence of offerings.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly ritual with detailed textiles and vessels, attendants holding manuscripts, subtle icon-emblems floating in sky band, precise depiction of ladle and oblations."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पाठे ‘छ, ख, घ…’ इत्यादि वर्णसूचना/पाठभेद-चिह्नानि; पदविश्लेषणे न गृहीतानि। aindramantrāṃstu = ऐन्द्रमन्त्रान् + तु; juhuyādamūniti = जुहुयात् + अमून् + इति; शर्मायुष्याभयदान्मनून् = शर्मायुष्याभयदान् + मनून् (न् + म → न्म).
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Mantra-kalpa and homa-vidhi sections; Agni Purana: Svastyayana and śānti-prayoga passages in consecration context
FAQs
It prescribes a royal pacificatory fire-offering (homa) conducted by the purohita and ṛtvij using specific mantra-sets—Vaiṣṇava, Aindra, Sāvitrī, Vaiśvadeva, Saumya, and Svastyayana—to secure welfare, longevity, and protection.
Alongside theology, it preserves practical statecraft ritual protocol—how a king employs priests and standardized mantra-cycles for public and royal well-being—showing the Purāṇa’s coverage of governance-linked liturgy (rājadharma + karma-kāṇḍa).
Performing these sanctioned homa-mantras is presented as generating auspicious merit that pacifies obstacles and confers śānti—manifesting as welfare, long life, and fearlessness for the ruler (and by extension, the realm).