Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 7
Aghīrāstra-ādi-Śānti-kalpaḥ
Rite for Pacification of Aghora-Astra and Other Weapons
दूर्वाक्षताज्यहोमेन व्याधयो ऽथ घृतेन च सहस्रेण तु दुःखस्वप्ना विनशन्ति न संशयः
dūrvākṣatājyahomena vyādhayo 'tha ghṛtena ca sahasreṇa tu duḥkhasvapnā vinaśanti na saṃśayaḥ
દૂર્વા, અક્ષત અને ઘીથી કરેલા હોમથી વ્યાધિઓ શમે છે; અને ઘીની સહસ્ર આહુતિથી દુઃખદ સ્વપ્નો નષ્ટ થાય છે—એમાં સંશય નથી.
Lord Agni (in dialogue tradition of Agni Purāṇa, instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Ritual-therapeutic homa using dūrvā, akṣata, and ghee for disease pacification; ghee-offering counted to a thousand for alleviating distressing dreams (psychic/mental disturbance).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Dūrvā–Akṣata–Ghṛta Homa for Vyādhi-śānti; Sahasra-ghṛta for Duḥsvapna-nāśa","lookup_keywords":["dūrvā-homa","akṣata","ghṛta-homa","vyādhi-śānti","duḥsvapna-nāśa"],"quick_summary":"A specific homa-material triad is prescribed to pacify diseases, and a thousand ghee oblations are stated to remove distressing dreams."}
Dosha: Tridosha
Concept: Healing as śānti: bodily disease and mental disturbance (dream-terror) are approached through purificatory, repetitive ritual action that cultivates steadiness and auspiciousness.
Application: When illness or nightmare patterns arise, perform the stated homa (or commission it) with disciplined counts; integrate with ethical conduct, rest, and supportive care.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda / Bhaiṣajya & Śānti-kalpa (Ritual-therapeutic remedies)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A healing homa: bundles of dūrvā grass and bowls of akṣata and ghee beside the fire; the patient/family sits nearby. In a secondary vignette, a sleeper’s distressing dream dissolves as the thousand ghee offerings are completed.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: homa fire with dūrvā and akṣata offerings, healer-priest performing oblations, patient seated calmly, dream-cloud motif above showing nightmares fading, bold lines and earthy palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: central sacred fire with gold glow, dūrvā garlands and akṣata bowls rendered richly, serene family scene, dream motif in a gilded cloud dissolving into auspicious symbols.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: instructional depiction of materials (dūrvā, akṣata, ghṛta), stepwise offering sequence, count-marking for sahasra oblations, gentle shading and clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: intimate household courtyard homa, detailed utensils and textiles, patient and relatives attentive, night-sky panel showing sleeper freed from nightmare imagery, refined naturalistic detail."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Kapi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: dūrvākṣatājyahomena → dūrvā-akṣata-ājya-homena; vyādhayo 'tha → vyādhayaḥ atha (visarga before vowel); duḥkhasvapnā → duḥkha-svapnāḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 320 (Ayurveda/Bhaiṣajya & Śānti-kalpa interface)
FAQs
It prescribes a śānti-oriented homa using dūrvā, akṣata, and ghee to alleviate disease, and specifies a 1000-fold ghee offering as a focused rite to eliminate distressing dreams.
It blends ritual science (homa-dravya and numerical prayoga) with practical wellbeing outcomes (disease mitigation and dream-related distress), illustrating how the Agni Purāṇa catalogs applied knowledge across worship, health, and omen-management.
The homa functions as purification and pacification (śānti), aiming to reduce afflictions understood as both physical imbalance and subtle karmic/inauspicious influences, thereby restoring auspiciousness and mental calm.