Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 59
Pratiṣṭhā-sāmagrī-vidhāna — Prescription of Materials and Conditions for Consecration
गैरिकं हेममाक्षीकं पारदो वह्निगैरिकं गन्धकाभ्रकमित्यष्टौ धातवो ब्रीहयस् तथा
gairikaṃ hemamākṣīkaṃ pārado vahnigairikaṃ gandhakābhrakamityaṣṭau dhātavo brīhayas tathā
Gairika (ocre rouge), hema (or), mākṣīka (pyrite), pārada (mercure), vahni-gairika (ocre calciné), gandhaka (soufre) et abhraka (mica) — on dit que ce sont huit substances minérales (dhātavaḥ) ; de même, la classification se poursuit avec des grains tels que brīhi (riz).
Lord Agni (in discourse to the sage Vasiṣṭha, per the Agni Purana’s standard narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Rasashastra inventory of mineral substances (dhātu/upa-dhātu) for alchemical and medicinal preparations; introduces continuation into food-grain classifications relevant to dietetics.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Rasadravya: gairika-ādi dhātu list (with pāradā, gandhakā, abhrakā)","lookup_keywords":["gairika","makshika","parada","gandhaka","abhraka"],"quick_summary":"Enumerates key mineral substances—ochres, pyrite, mercury, sulphur, mica—used in rasashastra after proper processing. The verse also signals transition to dietary categories (grains like rice) in the broader medical compendium."}
Concept: Knowledge of substances (dravya-jñāna) spans minerals and foods; both are instruments for sustaining and transforming the body when used with discernment.
Application: Maintain clear separation between specialist rasadravya handling and everyday dietary guidance; teach students the categories before procedures.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda / Rasashastra (Minerals, metals, and alchemical substances in Agni Purana’s encyclopedic medicine)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A rasavaidya displays mineral substances: red ochre, pyrite, mercury in a sealed vial, sulphur lumps, mica sheets, and calcined ochre; beside them a bowl of rice indicates the text’s shift from minerals to grains.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, vivid red ochre and golden pyrite tones, sealed mercury vial, mica shimmering patterns, rice bowl as contrasting simple food, sacred-science ambience","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold accents on hema/mākṣīka, richly ornamented containers for mercury and sulphur, mica rendered with metallic sheen, rice bowl with auspicious markings","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic composition: labeled mineral samples and a rice measure, practitioner pointing to each category, neat workshop setting with furnace in background","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, meticulous still-life of minerals and grains on a carpeted table, physician-scholar annotating, fine textures for mica and sulphur, architectural alcove backdrop"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: गन्धकाभ्रकमित्यष्टौ = गन्धकाभ्रकम् + इति + अष्टौ (म्+इ→मि; इति+अष्टौ → इत्यष्टौ). hemamākṣīkaṃ = हेम + माक्षीकम् (compound).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 95 (Rasashastra/Minerals section); Agni Purana 95 (Anna/Dravya classifications continuing after dhātu list)
FAQs
It enumerates key rasāśāstra/āyurvedic mineral substances (dhātu) such as ochre, gold, pyrite, mercury, sulphur, and mica—core materials for medicinal and alchemical formulations after purification/processing.
By cataloging technical materia medica (minerals/metals and related categories), the text functions like a compendium—preserving practical medical-alchemical classifications alongside ritual, polity, architecture, and poetics.
Such classifications support disciplined, dharma-aligned healing and purification practices; when used responsibly (with proper śodhana/saṃskāra), they are framed as sustaining life and aiding sattvic well-being, which is meritorious.