Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 3
The Six Limbs (Ṣaḍaṅga) of the Aghora-Astra (अघोरास्त्राणि षडङ्गानि)
ॐ नमो भगवति गन्ङे कालि महाकालि मांसशोणितभोजने रक्तकृष्णमुखि वशमानय मानुषान् स्वाहा ॐ लक्षं जप्त्वा दशांशेन हुत्वा स्यात् सर्वकर्मकृत् वशं नयति शक्रादीन्मानुषेष्वेषु क कथा
oṃ namo bhagavati ganṅe kāli mahākāli māṃsaśoṇitabhojane raktakṛṣṇamukhi vaśamānaya mānuṣān svāhā oṃ lakṣaṃ japtvā daśāṃśena hutvā syāt sarvakarmakṛt vaśaṃ nayati śakrādīnmānuṣeṣveṣu ka kathā
«Oṃ. Hommage à la Déesse Bienheureuse—Gaṅgā, Kālī, Mahākālī—qui se repaît de chair et de sang, au visage rouge et noir : “Amène les êtres humains sous (mon) pouvoir—svāhā.” Oṃ. Après avoir répété ce mantra cent mille (un lakh) fois, puis offert au feu le dixième de ce nombre, on devient apte à accomplir tous les rites ; on peut soumettre même Indra (Śakra) et les semblables—que dire alors des hommes ordinaires ?»
Lord Agni (narrating the procedure to the sage Vasiṣṭha, as is typical for the Agni Purana’s instructional sections)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Vāśīkaraṇa/vaśya prayoga via fierce-devī mantra with lakṣa-japa and daśāṃśa-homa to obtain influence and ritual mastery (as presented in the text).","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Kālī–Mahākālī Vaśīkaraṇa Mantra with Lakṣa-Japa and Daśāṃśa-Homa","lookup_keywords":["vaśīkaraṇa","kālī mahākālī mantra","lakṣa-japa","daśāṃśa-homa","svāhā"],"quick_summary":"A fierce goddess-mantra is given for vaśya (bringing under control), prescribing one lakh repetitions followed by a tenth-part homa to attain broad ritual efficacy and influence."}
Concept: Mantra-siddhi through saṅkhyā-niyama (fixed counts) and homa-sealing; śakti invoked in ugra mode for control-oriented outcomes.
Application: As a textual example of abhichāra/vaśya methodology: japa → daśāṃśa-homa → claimed siddhi; highlights the prayoga-structure used in tantric manuals.
Khanda Section: Mantra-vidya (Tantric rites for vashikarana / abhichara-prayoga)
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A fierce Kālī/Mahākālī presence invoked beside a homa fire; the sādhaka performs lakṣa-japa with rosary and offers daśāṃśa oblations, aiming at vaśya-siddhi.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: ugra Devī with red-black mukha, wide eyes, dynamic stance; homa fire in foreground; sādhaka seated with japa-mālā; deep reds, blacks, and ochres with traditional mural ornamentation.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: iconic Kālī with gold halo and heavy gold work on ornaments; stylized flames and ritual vessels; mantra text panel; dramatic contrast of crimson and black with gilded highlights.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: balanced composition showing ritual steps—mālā, counting marks, homa ladle—alongside a restrained yet fierce Devī depiction; fine linework and soft gradients.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: nocturnal ritual courtyard, detailed firelight, sādhaka with rosary, attendants; Devī apparition rendered with intense colors; calligraphic mantra cartouche."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"fast","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वशमानय = वशम् + आनय; लक्षं जप्त्वा = लक्षम् + जप्त्वा; लक्षाहुतिभिः इत्यादि न अत्र; मानुषेष्वेषु = मानुषेषु + एषु.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 322 (mantra-prayoga/abhichāra segment)
FAQs
It teaches a specific mantra-prayoga: perform 100,000 repetitions (japa) of the stated mantra and then complete it with a tenth-part fire offering (daśāṃśa-homa) to achieve vashikarana (bringing persons under control).
Beyond mythology, the Agni Purana preserves operational ritual technology—precise counts (lakṣa-japa), completion rites (daśāṃśa-homa), and stated results—showing its manual-like coverage of mantra-vidya alongside other sciences.
The text frames mantra + homa as a siddhi-producing discipline: completion by homa is presented as what “seals” the practice and yields potency, though the intended use (vashikarana) is a results-oriented rite with ethically weighty karmic implications.