Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 15
अधिवासनं नाम निर्वाणदीक्षायाम्
Adhivāsana in the Nirvāṇa-dīkṣā
नैरृतो मारणो हन्ता क्रूरदृष्टिर्भयानकः ऊर्ध्वांशको विरूपाक्षो धूम्रलोहितदंष्ट्रवान्
nairṛto māraṇo hantā krūradṛṣṭirbhayānakaḥ ūrdhvāṃśako virūpākṣo dhūmralohitadaṃṣṭravān
Nairṛta — nommé aussi Māraṇa et Hantā — au regard cruel et à l’aspect terrifiant ; Urdhvāṃśaka ; Virūpākṣa ; et celui dont les crocs sont d’un rouge enfumé.
Lord Agni (narrating the Agni Purana’s compendium to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Protective recitation/nyāsa invoking fierce directional/retinue names to ward off hostile forces (māraṇa/hantā imagery) and stabilize boundaries in ritual space.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Nairṛta-Rākṣasa Protective Names (Māraṇa, Hantā, Virūpākṣa, etc.)","lookup_keywords":["Nairṛta","Māraṇa","Hantā","Virūpākṣa","Dhūmralohita-daṃṣṭra"],"quick_summary":"A name-garland of fierce Nairṛta-associated beings used in protective contexts; emphasizes terrifying gaze, distorted eyes, and smoky-red fangs as apotropaic markers."}
Alamkara Type: Bhaya-utpādana through viśeṣaṇa-bahulatā (dense adjectival piling)
Concept: Ritual safety through dik-bandhana: naming and installing fierce guardians transforms fear into controlled protection.
Application: Use in protective circles (rakṣā), threshold rites, and during homa/pujā to ‘seal’ the southwest quarter against obstacles.
Khanda Section: Rakshasa-Nama-Mala / Dikpala-Anucara-Varnana (Protective Tantra-Mantra and directional guardians’ retinues)
Primary Rasa: Bhayānaka
Secondary Rasa: Raudra
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A fierce southwest guardian cohort: dark, terrifying figures with uneven eyes and smoky-red fangs, standing at the corner of a ritual enclosure; their gaze wards off intruders; smoke and red embers accent the fangs and eyes.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural of ugra rākṣasa guardians at the southwest corner of a temple courtyard; virūpākṣa eyes, dhūmra-lohita fangs; bold outlines, deep reds/soot blacks; protective boundary motifs.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore-style protective panel: fierce guardian with prominent fangs and wide eyes, gold highlights on ornaments, dark smoky background; corner-guardian composition with decorative border.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting with clear iconographic labels: Nairṛta, Māraṇa, Hantā, Virūpākṣa; detailed facial features and fangs; instructional placement at southwest of a ritual diagram.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature of a ritual pavilion guarded by fierce figures at one corner; expressive faces, smoky-red accents on fangs; fine architectural detail and patterned garments."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"intense","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi or Todi (grave/ugra color)","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: क्रूरदृष्टिर्भयानकः → क्रूरदृष्टिः + भयानकः (visarga before bh-).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 84 (rakṣasa-nāma-mālā context); Agni Purana protective rites sections (rakṣā, bali, dikpāla-related lists)
FAQs
It transmits a calibrated name-list (nāma-mālā) of fierce beings/epithets—used in protective recitation, identification, and appeasement rites connected with directional powers (notably the south-west/Nairṛta).
By preserving a structured catalogue of names, attributes, and iconographic markers (e.g., cruel gaze, terrifying form, smoky-red fangs), it functions like a reference index for ritual specialists—one of the Purana’s many compendious “lists” spanning cosmology, worship, and protective lore.
Correctly naming and recognizing such fierce forces is traditionally held to reduce fear and avert harm through disciplined speech and ritual order—transforming chaotic threat into a managed, dharmic framework of protection and propitiation.