Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 27
Mantra-paribhāṣā (मन्त्रपरिभाषा) — Colophon/Closure
शुष्ककाष्ठाश्रितः खिन्नस्तिलाक्तककरांशुकः आर्द्रवासाः कृष्णरक्तपुष्पयुक्तशिरोरुहः
śuṣkakāṣṭhāśritaḥ khinnastilāktakakarāṃśukaḥ ārdravāsāḥ kṛṣṇaraktapuṣpayuktaśiroruhaḥ
Qu’il demeure près du bois sec, qu’il reste soumis et las des austérités, les mains et le vêtement enduits de tila-alktaka (teinture rouge à base de sésame), qu’il porte des habits humides et qu’il place des fleurs noires et rouges dans sa chevelure.
Lord Agni (in instruction mode, Agni Purana’s standard narrator)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Ritual observance: prescribed external marks (vastra, puṣpa, tilāktaka) and austerity-posture to qualify the sādhaka for a specific pūjā/kalpa.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Sādhaka-veśa (ritual attire and austerity marks)","lookup_keywords":["tilāktaka","ārdra-vāsa","kṛṣṇa-rakta-puṣpa","śuṣka-kāṣṭha","pūjā-vidhi"],"quick_summary":"The verse prescribes a specific ritual appearance: subdued austerity near dry fuel, damp clothing, red sesame-dye smearing, and black/red flowers in the hair—used as a vrata-like qualification for a rite."}
Concept: Bāhya-ācāra (outer discipline) supports antar-śuddhi (inner readiness) for mantra/ritual efficacy.
Application: Adopt prescribed vrata-signs and controlled demeanor to stabilize attention and signal ritual intent before commencing the kalpa.
Khanda Section: Pūjā-vidhi / Tantra-kalpa (Ritual prescriptions and observances)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"An ascetic practitioner seated near stacked dry firewood, wearing damp cloth, hands and garment tinted red with sesame-dye, black and red flowers tucked into the hair, posture subdued from austerity.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, earthy reds and greens, sādhaka with ārdra-vāsa and tilāktaka stains, black-red flowers in hair, dry firewood bundle beside, minimal background, ritual austerity mood.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, rich textiles and gold highlights, sādhaka with red tilāktaka on hands/cloth, black and red flowers in hair, stylized firewood stack, ornate border, devotional-ritual ambience.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, fine linework, instructional depiction of prescribed attire: damp garment, red sesame-dye smearing, flower placement, labeled ritual items (kāṣṭha), calm composition.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed textiles showing damp folds, subtle red dye on hands and shawl, attendant holding black/red flowers, dry wood pile, restrained palette, contemplative austerity scene."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: śuṣkakāṣṭhāśritaḥ = śuṣka-kāṣṭha-āśritaḥ; khinnas-tilāktaka... = khinnaḥ tilāktaka...; karāṃśukaḥ = kara-aṃśukaḥ; puṣpayuktaśiroruhaḥ = puṣpa-yukta-śiroruhaḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 293 (pūjā-vidhi/tantra-kalpa context: dūta-śakuna and preparatory observances)
FAQs
It prescribes specific ritual observance markers—where to stay (near dry fuel), bodily/cloth anointing with tilāktaka, wearing damp garments, and adorning hair with black and red flowers—used as identifiers and aids in a vrata/kalpa procedure.
Beyond theology, it records practical rite-technology: sanctioned materials (sesame-based dye), prescribed colors, and dress/appearance rules—showing the Purana’s coverage of applied ritual protocol alongside broader dharma and worship systems.
Such regulated austerity and symbolic attire function as disciplines of restraint and ritual purity, supporting focused worship and the merit (puṇya) associated with correctly performed observances.