Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 20
Sāma-vidhāna
Procedure of the Sāman Hymns
प्रदेवो दासेन तिलान् हुत्वा कार्मणकृन्तनं अभि त्वा पूर्वपीतये वषट्कारसमन्वितं वृहस्पतिर् नः परिपातु पथि स्वस्त्ययनं भवेत् मुञ्चामि त्वेति कथितमपमृत्युनिवारणं
pradevo dāsena tilān hutvā kārmaṇakṛntanaṃ abhi tvā pūrvapītaye vaṣaṭkārasamanvitaṃ vṛhaspatir naḥ paripātu pathi svastyayanaṃ bhavet muñcāmi tveti kathitamapamṛtyunivāraṇaṃ
Après avoir offert des graines de sésame au feu par l’entremise d’un serviteur, on doit employer le rite qui tranche la sorcellerie hostile (karmāṇa-kṛntana) : «abhi tvā pūrvapītaye», accompagné de l’exclamation vaṣaṭ. «Que Bṛhaspati nous protège sur la route ; que le voyage soit de bon augure.» La formule «muñcāmi tvā» est déclarée être un moyen d’écarter l’apamṛtyu (mort prématurée).
Lord Agni (narrating Agni Purana instructions to sage Vasiṣṭha, in the usual dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Apamṛtyu-nivāraṇa and karmāṇa-chedana (cutting hostile sorcery) through tilahoma, vaṣaṭ-linked mantra, and path-protection invocation to Bṛhaspati.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Tilahoma with vaṣaṭ for karmāṇa-chedana; Bṛhaspati path-protection; apamṛtyu-nivāraṇa mantra","lookup_keywords":["tilahoma","karmāṇa-chedana","Bṛhaspati paripātu","apamṛtyu-nivāraṇa","muñcāmi tvā"],"quick_summary":"Sesame oblations with a vaṣaṭ-accompanied mantra are prescribed to cut hostile rites; Bṛhaspati is invoked for safe travel; ‘muñcāmi tvā’ is stated to ward off untimely death."}
Concept: Svasti and rakṣā are achieved through disciplined rite: offering (tila), mantra with vaṣaṭ, and guru-deva (Bṛhaspati) protection; death-anxiety is met with structured practice.
Application: Before journeys or during ominous periods, perform tilahoma with prescribed mantra; recite Bṛhaspati-protection for safe passage; use ‘muñcāmi tvā’ as apamṛtyu-śānti japa.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Mantra-prayoga (Protective rites; apamṛtyu-nivāraṇa)
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Samanya
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A homa fire receives sesame offerings via an attendant; the priest chants a vaṣaṭ-linked formula; above, Bṛhaspati blesses travelers on a road; a protective ‘release’ motif illustrates ‘muñcāmi tvā’ averting untimely death.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, vivid fire altar with sesame offerings, attendant assisting, stylized road scene with travelers under a benevolent Bṛhaspati figure, dark apamṛtyu shadow repelled by mantra aura, ornate temple borders","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf flames and ornaments, Bṛhaspati with radiant halo blessing a path, sesame bowl gleaming, protective yantra-like motifs around the scene","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional composition: labeled tilahoma steps, vaṣaṭ mark, separate panel for ‘pथि स्वस्ति’ travel blessing, clean lines and soft shading","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtyard ritual with servant offering sesame, detailed travel caravan on a winding path, celestial Bṛhaspati in the sky, calligraphic ‘muñcāmi tvā’ cartouche"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: vṛhaspatir naḥ → vṛhaspatiḥ + naḥ; kathitamapamṛtyunivāraṇaṃ → kathitam + apamṛtyu-nivāraṇam; tveti → tvā + iti.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 260 (apamṛtyu-nivāraṇa and rakṣā-mantras)
FAQs
It prescribes a protective homa using sesame (tila) with vaṣaṭ, employing specific mantra-formulas—one described as cutting off hostile kārmaṇa (sorcery) and another (“muñcāmi tvā”) stated to avert apamṛtyu (untimely death).
Beyond theology, it preserves applied ritual technology: concrete materials (tila), liturgical markers (vaṣaṭ), deity-invocation (Bṛhaspati), and practical aims (safe travel, protection from premature death), illustrating the text’s wide coverage of real-world rites and remedies.
The rite functions as śānti (pacification) and rakṣā (protection), aiming to neutralize harmful influences and secure auspicious passage, while the ‘release’ formula symbolically and ritually loosens bonds leading to danger or premature death.