Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 34
Chapter 31 — मार्जनविधानं
The Procedure of Mārjana / Purificatory Sprinkling
नरसिंह महासिंह ज्वालामालोज्ज्वलानन ग्रहानशेषान् सर्वेश खाद खादाग्निलोचन
narasiṃha mahāsiṃha jvālāmālojjvalānana grahānaśeṣān sarveśa khāda khādāgnilocana
હે નરસિંહ, હે મહાસિંહ, જ્વાલામાળાથી ઉજ્જ્વલ મુખવાળા! હે સર્વેશ, હે અગ્નિલોચન! અશેષ ગ્રહોને નિઃશેષ રીતે ભક્ષણ કર, ભક્ષણ કર।
Lord Agni (narrating ritual/mantra procedure to Sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Forceful apotropaic mantra for Nṛsiṃha-graha-śānti: invoke the fiery, flame-garlanded, fire-eyed Narasimha to ‘devour’ (neutralize) all graha-afflictions.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Mantra","entry_title":"Nṛsiṃha ‘Khāda Khāda’ Graha-nāśa-mantra","lookup_keywords":["khāda khāda mantra","jvālāmālā","agnilocana","Narasimha graha-nāśa","rakṣā-mantra"],"quick_summary":"A command-style protective mantra employing fierce epithets (flame-garland, fire-eyed) and the imperative ‘devour’ to rapidly dispel graha-afflictions in ritual contexts."}
Alamkara Type: Anuprasa
Concept: Ugra-devatā upāsanā as compassionate protection: fierce form deployed to remove harm.
Application: In moments of acute fear/affliction, employ short, forceful mantra-japa with focused visualization of fiery Narasimha consuming negativity.
Khanda Section: Pūjā-vidhi / Mantra-kalpa (Nṛsiṃha-graha-śānti and protective incantations)
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Ugra Narasimha with a garland of flames and fire-like eyes roars the command ‘khāda khāda’, consuming dark graha-entities that scatter and dissolve into sparks.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, ferocious Narasimha with jvālāmālā around face, eyes like fire, open mouth roaring, graha-spirits consumed in flame, high-contrast reds/ochres, dynamic swirling fire motifs.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, Narasimha with intense gold halo and embossed flame garland, fiery eyes highlighted, graha demons at base being swallowed by stylized flames, rich gold work, dramatic protective icon.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, precise depiction of mantra effect: Narasimha icon, flame aura, repeated ‘khāda khāda’ shown as calligraphic bands, graha silhouettes dissolving, clean instructional clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, supernatural battle-like exorcism scene: Narasimha’s flaming visage, graha figures as smoky jinn-like forms being drawn into fire, intricate detailing, controlled palette with bright flame accents."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"apotropaic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"fast","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: jvālāmālojjvalānana = jvālā-mālā-ujjvala-ānana (mālā + ujjvala → mālojjvala by sandhi); grahānaśeṣān = grahān + aśeṣān; khādāgnilocana in saṃhitā = khāda + agni-locana (verb + vocative epithet juxtaposition).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 31.33 (pacificatory prayer); Agni Purana 31 (rakṣā-mantra corpus around graha-śānti)
FAQs
It gives a Nṛsiṃha-invocation used as a protective mantra in graha-śānti prayoga, commanding the deity to ‘devour’ (neutralize) harmful seizing influences and afflictions.
Alongside theology, the Agni Purāṇa preserves applied ritual technology—mantras and practical pacification methods (śānti) for dealing with obstacles, fear, and afflictive forces—showing its coverage of lived religious practice.
Invoking Nṛsiṃha as the blazing remover of ‘grahas’ is meant to purify obstructions, protect the practitioner, and restore auspiciousness (śubha) by dispelling harmful influences through devotion and mantra.