Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 15
Chapter 290 — गजशान्तिः
Gaja-śānti: Elephant-Pacification Rite
करिणीन्तु समारुह्य वदेत् कर्णन्तु कालवित् मरुतो ऽनल इति ज चतुःकुम्भा इति ञ पताकिन इति ज नागराजे ऽमृते शान्तिं कृत्वामुस्मिन् जपेन्मनुम्
kariṇīntu samāruhya vadet karṇantu kālavit maruto 'nala iti ja catuḥkumbhā iti ña patākina iti ja nāgarāje 'mṛte śāntiṃ kṛtvāmusmin japenmanum
કરિણી (હથિણી) પર આરોહણ કરીને કાલવિદ્ (સમયજ્ઞ) કાને ઉચ્ચારે— ‘મરુતઃ, અનલ’ (જ-કાર સાથે), ‘ચતુઃકુંભા’ (ઞ-કાર સાથે) અને ‘પતાકિન’ (જ-કાર સાથે). નાગરાજ અમૃત માટે શાંતિ-કર્મ કરીને, તે પ્રસંગે નિર્ધારિત મંત્રનો જપ કરવો.
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha in ritual procedure)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Performing nāga-śānti and protective japa with specified bīja-syllable attachments to mantra-names, timed execution (kāla-vid), and ritual posture/action (mounting a female elephant) as part of a consecration-protection protocol.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Mantra","entry_title":"Nāga-śānti for Nāgarāja Amṛta with bīja-linked mantra-nāmas (Marutaḥ/Anala; Catuḥkumbhā; Patākin)","lookup_keywords":["nāga-śānti","Amṛta nāgarāja","bīja ja ña","kāla-vid","japa"],"quick_summary":"A time-knowing officiant performs a specific nāga-pacification rite, reciting designated mantra-names with attached seed syllables (ja/ña), then completes the prescribed japa to secure protection and avert nāga-related disturbances."}
Concept: Mantra efficacy depends on correct time (kāla), correct phoneme (bīja), and correct ritual context (śānti-kriyā) to harmonize unseen forces.
Application: When performing protective rites, follow exact bīja attachments and timing; treat nāga-related omens/disturbances with śānti plus sustained japa rather than improvisation.
Khanda Section: Mantra-vidhi & Nāga-śānti (Protective rites, japa, appeasement rituals)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhayānaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"An officiant seated upon a female elephant, reciting mantras with precise bīja syllables; nearby a nāga-king representation labeled Amṛta receiving offerings; ritual assistants holding kumbhas and banners; protective atmosphere.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, dramatic yet sacred: priest on a female elephant, stylized serpent-king Amṛta with jeweled hood, assistants with ritual vessels, bold lines and saturated colors, apotropaic energy","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central elephant mount with gold ornamentation, radiant nāgarāja Amṛta with gold-leaf hood and gemstones, mantra-recitation posture, rich temple setting, auspicious-protective tone","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional depiction: officiant on elephant, text-like labels for ‘ja’ and ‘ña’ near mantra-names, clear arrangement of ritual items, calm background for clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, ceremonial procession-like scene: scholar-priest on elephant reciting, attendants carrying kumbhas and flags, serpent-king icon at a small shrine, fine detailing and balanced composition"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"ritualistic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: kariṇīntu = kariṇīm + tu; karṇantu = karṇam + tu; maruto 'nalaḥ = marutaḥ + analaḥ (visarga sandhi); japenmanum = japet + manum; nāgarāje 'mṛte = nāgarāje + amṛte (avagraha).
Related Themes: Agni Purana adhyāya 290 mantra-vidhi and śānti-krama; adjacent verses on nāga/elephant worship and dismissal
FAQs
It gives a specific prayoga for Nāga-śānti: timed recitation of named mantra-epithets linked with seed-syllables (‘ja’, ‘ña’), followed by japa after performing pacification for the Nāga-king Amṛta.
Beyond mythology, it preserves applied ritual technology—how to deploy mantras with bīja-akṣaras, timing (kāla), and śānti-karmas—showing the text’s manual-like coverage of practical religious procedures.
Nāga-śānti and mantra-japa are framed as appeasement and purification acts, intended to avert serpent-related afflictions and restore auspiciousness through correctly timed, correctly formulated recitation.