Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 15
Aghīrāstra-ādi-Śānti-kalpaḥ
Rite for Pacification of Aghora-Astra and Other Weapons
मध्यमायां तदर्धेन तत्पादादधमासु च यथा जपस् तथा होमः संग्रामे विजयो भवेत् अघोरास्त्रं जपेन्न्यस्य ध्यात्वा पञ्चास्यमूर्जितम्
madhyamāyāṃ tadardhena tatpādādadhamāsu ca yathā japas tathā homaḥ saṃgrāme vijayo bhavet aghorāstraṃ japennyasya dhyātvā pañcāsyamūrjitam
Dans le degré moyen, avec la moitié de cette mesure, et dans le degré inférieur, avec son quart, on accomplira le homa à la même mesure que le japa; alors la victoire au combat est obtenue. Après avoir fait le nyāsa, qu’on récite l’Aghora-astra en méditant sur la puissante Divinité aux cinq visages.
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Battlefield victory rites: calibrating homa to japa by observance-grade (madhyama/adhama), performing nyāsa, and deploying Aghora-astra mantra with visualization of the five-faced deity for protection and conquest.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Japa–Homa Proportioning and Aghora-Astra Nyāsa for Saṅgrāma-Vijaya","lookup_keywords":["japa-homa-sāmya","madhyama-adhama","nyāsa","Aghorāstra","pañcāsya-dhyāna"],"quick_summary":"Match homa offerings to the japa count, scaled by the practitioner’s grade (half/quarter). After nyāsa, recite the Aghora-astra while meditating on the powerful five-faced form to secure victory in battle."}
Weapon Type: Astra (mantra-weapon)
Concept: Mantra-siddhi depends on saṅkhyā (counts), śuddhi (nyāsa), and dhyāna (visualization); graded capacity is acknowledged via proportional practice.
Application: Plan a campaign’s ritual regimen: set japa target, mirror it in homa, and maintain correct nyāsa/dhyāna for psychological steadiness and ritual legitimacy.
Khanda Section: Agneya-vidya / Mantra-vidya (Astra-mantra, Japa–Homa procedures for victory)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A warrior-priest or king before battle performs nyāsa, seated by a fire altar; behind him a battlefield looms. Above/behind appears the five-faced fierce protective deity as a visualization, radiating power as offerings are made in proportion to japa.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: stylized five-faced fierce deity (pañcāsya) in iconic frontal composition, warrior performing nyāsa near homa fire, bold lines and saturated earth tones, protective aura motifs.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: central pañcāsya form with gold halo and ornate jewelry, foreground warrior/king at homa-kuṇḍa offering ghee, gold leaf emphasizing divine radiance and weapon-mantra power.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: refined depiction of nyāsa gestures (hand placements), rosary for japa, homa implements; faint battlefield in background; clear instructional emphasis on ritual sequence.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: camp pavilion with king and purohita performing homa; detailed armor and banners; ethereal five-faced deity apparition in the sky; narrative tension before combat."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तत्पादादधमासु = तत्पादात् + अधमासु (त् + अ → द् + अ by external sandhi in recitation). जपेन्न्यस्य = जपेत् + न्यस्य (त् + न् → न्न्).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 320 (Aghorāstra-related śānti context); Agni Purana 321 (Pāśupata-śānti and obstacle-removal astras)
FAQs
It specifies proportional rules for performing homa relative to japa across medium and lower grades of observance, and prescribes nyāsa plus recitation of the Aghora-astra while meditating on the Five-faced deity.
Alongside theology, it preserves applied ritual-technology for warfare—linking mantra-recitation, fire-offering metrics, and Tantric-style nyāsa/visualization as practical instructions aimed at success in combat.
By aligning japa with homa and adding nyāsa and focused meditation, the act is framed as a disciplined sacramental rite that empowers the mantra while purifying and concentrating the practitioner toward a desired outcome.