Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 5
Adhyaya 314 — Tvaritājñāna
Immediate/Quick Knowledge) (Colophon/Transition
महाकूर्मं पूजयित्वा पादप्रोक्षन्तु निक्षिपेत् ताडयेद्वामपादेन स्मृत्वा शत्रुञ्च सप्तधा
mahākūrmaṃ pūjayitvā pādaprokṣantu nikṣipet tāḍayedvāmapādena smṛtvā śatruñca saptadhā
મહાકૂર્મનું વિધિપૂર્વક પૂજન કરીને, પાદોદકથી પ્રોક્ષણ કરી તે વસ્તુ સ્થાપિત કરવી. પછી શત્રુનું સ્મરણ કરીને ડાબા પગથી સાત વાર પ્રહાર કરવો.
Lord Agni (in dialogue tradition, instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Protective/abhicāra-style stambhana rite using nyāsa-like placement, pāda-prokṣaṇa, and symbolic trampling to ritually ‘subdue’ an enemy.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Mahākūrma-pūjā with left-foot striking (sapta-tāḍana) for enemy-subjugation","lookup_keywords":["Mahākūrma","pāda-prokṣaṇa","vāma-pāda-tāḍana","sapta","śatru-smaraṇa"],"quick_summary":"After worshipping Mahākūrma, the practitioner sprinkles/places the ritual support and performs seven left-foot strikes while mentally fixing the enemy, as a coercive stambhana gesture."}
Concept: Ritual action (kriyā) + focused smaraṇa (intentional cognition) is treated as causally efficacious in tantra.
Application: Maintain strict mental fixation on the target while executing prescribed bodily mudrā/gesture counts (sevenfold) to ‘seal’ the rite.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Tantric/Protective Rite Procedures)
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A tantric practitioner worships a tortoise-emblem altar, sprinkles sanctified water, places the ritual support, then stamps the left foot seven times while visualizing an enemy being immobilized.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat vibrant colors, Mahākūrma as sacred tortoise-ādhāra on a lotus base, priest in white dhoti performing pāda-prokṣaṇa and left-foot stamping, ritual vessels, yantra lines, solemn protective ambience","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold leaf, central Mahākūrma icon with ornate halo, priest performing sevenfold stamping gesture, rich jewelry motifs on ritual implements, embossed gold borders, deep reds and greens","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, delicate linework, instructional composition showing steps: worship, sprinkling, placement, seven stamps marked with small numerals, calm background with mandala grid","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed courtly atelier look, a yogin-priest in a small shrine room with tortoise emblem, water sprinkling and stamping captured in sequential vignette panels, fine textiles and patterned floor"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: शत्रुञ्च → शत्रुम् + च; ताडयेद्वामपादेन → ताडयेत् + वामपादेन.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 314 (stambhana/mohana prayoga context)
FAQs
It teaches a specific operational sequence in an enemy-subduing rite: worship Mahākūrma, ritually sprinkle/prepare and place the object, then perform a sevenfold stamping/striking with the left foot while visualizing the target.
Beyond mythology, it preserves applied ritual technology—precise bodily actions (left-foot striking), counted repetitions (sevenfold), and visualization—showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of practical mantra–rite procedures alongside other sciences.
The verse frames the act as a consecrated procedure (preceded by worship and purification), implying that intention is ritually ‘sealed’ through counted action and visualization, directing the rite’s force toward restraint/subjugation rather than a random act.