Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 47
Chapter 282 — नानारोगहराण्यौषधानि
Medicines that Remove Various Diseases
तैलं भवेद् घृताकारं किञ्चिच्चूर्णं जलान्वितं धूपार्थं दृश्यते चित्रं वृषदंशजरायुना
tailaṃ bhaved ghṛtākāraṃ kiñciccūrṇaṃ jalānvitaṃ dhūpārthaṃ dṛśyate citraṃ vṛṣadaṃśajarāyunā
Que l’huile soit rendue épaisse comme le ghee ; avec un peu de substance pulvérisée mêlée d’eau, on y voit une préparation particulière pour la fumigation, utilisant la membrane de l’arrière‑faix (afterbirth) provenant d’une morsure de taureau/bœuf (vṛṣa-daṃśa).
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in encyclopedic technical topics)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Preparation for dhūpana (fumigation) using thickened oil and powdered additives; inclusion of animal membrane/afterbirth suggests a specialized, possibly protective/repellent or ritual-therapeutic fumigation practice used in household/clinical settings.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Dhūpana Preparation: Ghṛta-like Thick Oil with Powder and Animal Membrane (Jarāyu)","lookup_keywords":["dhūpana","taila ghṛtākāra","cūrṇa","jala-anvita","jarāyu"],"quick_summary":"The verse outlines a fumigation-oriented preparation: oil thickened to a ghee-like consistency, combined with a small amount of powder and water, and associated with jarāyu (afterbirth/membrane) for a distinctive dhūpa application."}
Concept: Dhūpana bridges medicine and protective rite: purification of space through controlled smoke and substances, reflecting a liminal zone between clinical hygiene and apotropaic practice.
Application: Employ fumigation as environmental management—odor control, insect/contagion deterrence, and ritual protection—within traditional constraints and caution.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda / Rasayana / Bhaishajya (medicinal formulations and preparations)
Primary Rasa: bibhatsa
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A thickened oil mixture is prepared in a small pan; powder is sprinkled and mixed with water; a fumigation brazier emits aromatic smoke; the scene hints at the unusual inclusion of a membrane material as part of the dhūpa preparation.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, interior room with dhūpa brazier, vaidya preparing thick oil paste, stylized smoke curls, ritual-protective ambiance, subdued earthy palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, ornate fumigation lamp/brazier with gold work, thick oil mixture in a vessel, attendants performing protective fumigation, rich decorative setting","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, technical depiction of preparation steps and tools (pan, ladle, powder, water), controlled smoke shown clearly, emphasis on procedure","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, physician-apothecary preparing fumigant near a brazier, delicate smoke patterns, detailed vessels and textiles, discreet symbolic indication of jarāyu material"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: bhaved → bhavet (before voiced consonant); ghṛtākāraṃ → ghṛta-ākāram; kiñciccūrṇaṃ → kiñcit + cūrṇam; jalānvitaṃ → jala-anvitam; dhūpārthaṃ → dhūpa-artham; vṛṣadaṃśajarāyunā → vṛṣa-daṃśa-jarāyunā.
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa sections on dhūpa/dhūpana and household therapeutics near the Rasāyana/Bhaiṣajya material
FAQs
It gives a practical formulation note: thicken oil to a ghee-like consistency, add a small amount of powder and water, and employ it as a dhūpa (medicated fumigation/smoke) preparation, specifically mentioning jarāyu (afterbirth membrane) as an ingredient/material.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purana preserves applied technical know-how—here, a procedural recipe in the domain of Ayurvedic/ritual fumigation (dhūpana), showing its coverage of materia medica, processing methods, and pragmatic household/ritual therapeutics.
Dhūpa (fumigation) is traditionally linked with purification of space and removal of harmful influences; such instructions are framed as supporting cleanliness, protection, and ritual purity—conditions considered conducive to auspiciousness and merit in Puranic practice.