Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 5
Chapter 290 — गजशान्तिः
Gaja-śānti: Elephant-Pacification Rite
गजाः शान्त्युदकासिक्ता वृद्धौ नैमित्तिकं सृणु गजानाम्मकरादौ च ऐशान्यां नगराद्वहिः
gajāḥ śāntyudakāsiktā vṛddhau naimittikaṃ sṛṇu gajānāmmakarādau ca aiśānyāṃ nagarādvahiḥ
Lorsque les éléphants sont aspergés de l’eau de pacification (śānti-udaka), leur état s’améliore. Écoute maintenant les présages et leurs conséquences : pour les éléphants, un signe néfaste est au début de la période de Makara (Capricorne), et aussi (le fait d’être) au nord-est, hors de la cité.
Lord Agni (instructing Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Interpreting elephant-related omens by time (Makara period) and direction (Īśānya/NE) and applying a simple remedial act (śānty-udaka sprinkling) to restore welfare.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Gaja Naimittika-Lakṣaṇa: Makara-kāla and Īśānya Outside-City Omen; Śānty-udaka Remedy","lookup_keywords":["naimittika","Īśānya","Makara","śānty-udaka","gaja omen"],"quick_summary":"States that sprinkling elephants with pacificatory water improves their condition, and flags inauspicious contexts tied to Makara timing and NE/outside-city placement—prompting remedial rites and caution."}
Concept: Naimittika-dharma: reading signs in time and space and responding with measured remedial action to protect community prosperity (including royal animals).
Application: Maintain protocols: monitor elephants’ placement relative to city and NE sector; during Makara-related periods increase vigilance and perform śānti with water and associated rites.
Khanda Section: Vastu-shastra / Naimittika-Lakshana (Omens and remedial rites; animals and portents)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Type: Directional/settlement boundary
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"An elephant being sprinkled with consecrated water by attendants; a city gate in the background marking ‘outside the city’; the NE corner indicated by a compass-like diagram; seasonal Makara symbol (crocodile/Capricorn) shown as an omen marker.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, narrative panel: city wall and gate at right, elephant just outside; priest sprinkles water from a kalaśa; Īśānya corner marked with a small directional mandala; Makara emblem in border; bold earthy tones.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-highlighted kalaśa and water droplets; elephant richly caparisoned; city gate with ornate arch; Makara motif in gold at top; strong reds and greens with embossed detailing.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, semi-diagrammatic: elephant at center, attendant sprinkling water; clear compass rose labeling Īśānya; small inset showing Makara sign; clean lines for instructional clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, realistic urban edge: stone gate, guards, and an elephant outside; a Brahmin sprinkles water from a vessel; subtle celestial cartouche with Makara symbol; fine architectural perspective and textile detail."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: शान्त्युदकासिक्ता→शान्ति-उदक-आसिक्ताः; गजानाम्मकरादौ→गजानाम् मकरादौ; नगराद्वहिः→नगरात् बहिः (t→d before voiced consonant).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 290 (naimittika-lakṣaṇa segment within Gaja-śānti); Agni Purana 289 (Aśva-śānti: parallel animal-omen logic)
FAQs
It teaches a śānti-prayoga: sprinkling/bathing elephants with śānti-udaka as a practical pacificatory remedy, and it flags directional/time-based nimittas (Aiśānya; Makara-beginning) relevant to elephant management and omen-reading.
Beyond theology, it preserves applied knowledge used in governance and royal logistics—reading omens connected with state animals (elephants) and prescribing simple remedial rites—showing the Purana’s coverage of ritual, astrology/time markers, and Vastu-directional rules.
Performing śānti with consecrated water is presented as a purification and pacification act that neutralizes inauspicious portents, protecting prosperity and reducing harmful karmic outcomes indicated by adverse nimittas.