Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 1
Rudra-śānti (रुद्रशान्ति)
इत्य् आग्नेये महापुराणे रुद्रशान्तिर्नाम त्रयोविंशत्यधिकत्रिशततमो ऽध्यायः अथ चतुर्विंशत्यधिकत्रिशततमो ऽध्यायः अंशकादिः ईश्वर उवाच रुद्राक्षकटकं धार्यं विषमं सुसमं दृडम् एकत्रिपञ्चवदनं यथालाभन्तु धारयेत्
ity āgneye mahāpurāṇe rudraśāntirnāma trayoviṃśatyadhikatriśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ atha caturviṃśatyadhikatriśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ aṃśakādiḥ īśvara uvāca rudrākṣakaṭakaṃ dhāryaṃ viṣamaṃ susamaṃ dṛḍam ekatripañcavadanaṃ yathālābhantu dhārayet
આ રીતે અગ્નિ મહાપુરાણમાં ‘રુદ્ર-શાંતિ’ નામનો ત્રણસો ચોવીસમો અધ્યાય પૂર્ણ થયો. હવે ‘અંશકાદિ’ વિષયક ત્રણસો પચ્ચીસમો અધ્યાય આરંભે છે. ઈશ્વરે કહ્યું—રુદ્રાક્ષના મણકાનો કંકણ ધારણ કરવો; તે અસમાન હોય કે સુસમાન, પરંતુ દૃઢ હોવો જોઈએ. એક, ત્રણ અથવા પાંચ મુખવાળા રુદ્રાક્ષ યથાલાભ ધારણ કરવો.
Īśvara (Lord Śiva) (as quoted within the Agni Purāṇa narration)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Selection and wearing of rudrākṣa bracelet (kāṭaka) for Rudra-śānti/Śaiva observance, with guidance on acceptable bead quality and mukhi types.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Rudrākṣa-kaṭaka-dhāraṇa (1/3/5-mukhi)","lookup_keywords":["rudrākṣa","kaṭaka","mukhi","dhāraṇa","rudra-śānti"],"quick_summary":"Wear a firm rudrākṣa bracelet even if beads are irregular, and prefer 1-, 3-, or 5-faced beads as available; the emphasis is on stable, continuous observance rather than perfection of material."}
Concept: Sādhana depends on niyama (steadfast practice) more than external perfection; availability (yathālābha) is an accepted principle in ritual life.
Application: Use what is obtainable without anxiety; keep the vow continuous and the ritual articles stable/clean.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Rudra-shanti and Rudraksha-dharana (Shaiva ritual observances)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A Śaiva devotee fastening a rudrākṣa-bead bracelet on the wrist, with beads of mixed shapes; nearby, a small Śiva-liṅga and ritual items (water pot, bilva leaves).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat warm palette, Śaiva devotee wearing rudrākṣa kaṭaka on wrist, small liṅga shrine, bilva leaves, calm sacred ambience, traditional ornamentation","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf highlights on rudrākṣa bracelet and ornaments, devotee before Śiva-liṅga, rich textile borders, deep reds and greens, iconic frontal composition","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, delicate linework, instructional focus on wrist bracelet placement, clear depiction of 1/3/5-mukhi beads, minimal background shrine elements","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, fine detail of bead textures and wrist gesture, small shrine setting with ritual vessels, subdued naturalistic palette, courtly precision"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ity āgneye = iti + āgneye; rudraśāntirnāma = rudraśāntiḥ + nāma; 'dhyāyaḥ = adhyāyaḥ (after avagraha); yathālābhantu interpreted as yathā + lābham + tu (orthographic fusion).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 324 (Rudra-śānti context); Agni Purana 325 (Aṃśaka and related observances)
FAQs
It gives a practical rule of Rudrākṣa-dhāraṇa (wearing rudrākṣa): specifically, wearing a rudrākṣa bracelet that is firm, and selecting 1-, 3-, or 5-mukhi beads according to availability.
It shows the Agni Purāṇa functioning as a ritual handbook alongside narrative material—preserving concise, implementable instructions on Shaiva observances (Rudra-śānti and rudrākṣa usage), one of many technical domains covered across its chapters.
Wearing rudrākṣa is presented as a Shaiva discipline associated with pacification (śānti), protection, and purification; the emphasis on wearing what is obtainable also frames the practice as accessible, prioritizing sincere observance over luxury or rarity.