Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 54
Abhiṣeka-mantrāḥ
Consecration Mantras
उत्तराः कुरवः पान्तु रम्या हिरण्यकस् तथा भद्राश्वः केतुमालश् च वर्षश् चैव वलाहकः
uttarāḥ kuravaḥ pāntu ramyā hiraṇyakas tathā bhadrāśvaḥ ketumālaś ca varṣaś caiva valāhakaḥ
उत्तर-कुरव मुझे संरक्षण दें; तथा रम्य और हिरण्यक भी; और भद्राश्व, केतुमाल, तथा वलाहक नामक वर्ष भी।
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha, in the common Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Stotra","secondary_vidya":"Cosmology","practical_application":"Protective invocation of cosmographic regions (varṣas) as guardians; used in pūjā-vidhi for directional/realm-based rakṣā and auspiciousness.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Mantra","entry_title":"Raksha by varṣa-names: Uttara-Kuru, Ramya, Hiraṇyaka, Bhadrāśva, Ketumāla, Valāhaka","lookup_keywords":["uttara-kuru","ketumala","bhadrashva","ramya","valahaka"],"quick_summary":"A stotra-like protective line invoking famed Purāṇic regions as safeguarding powers. Supports ritual visualization of the world’s quarters and invokes prosperity and security."}
Alamkara Type: Namavali / enumeration
Concept: Protective visualization through cosmic totality: invoking the world’s regions integrates the practitioner into a safeguarded cosmic order.
Application: Recite during pūjā, especially in rakṣā-bandhana, digbandhana, or before sleep/travel; mentally place each varṣa as a protective boundary.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Stotra (Protective invocation of sacred regions)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A worshipper performs digbandhana; around him appear six luminous landscape-panels labeled Uttara-Kuru, Ramya, Hiraṇyaka, Bhadrāśva, Ketumāla, Valāhaka forming a protective ring.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, central pūjā scene with lamp and kalasha, surrounding circular frieze of six stylized realms with mountains, rivers, clouds (Valāhaka), each realm as a guardian vignette, bold outlines and flat colors","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central deity or yantra with gold leaf, outer ring of six varṣa medallions with jeweled borders, inscriptions of names, rich reds and greens, ornate floral motifs","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, neat compositional layout: devotee doing digbandhana mudrā, six labeled realm-panels arranged symmetrically, soft palette and fine detailing","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, cartographic-courtly style: a cosmographic map with six named regions around a central figure reciting, delicate landscapes and calligraphy cartouches"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: केतुमालश् च = केतुमालः + च (विसर्ग-लोप); वर्षश् चैव = वर्षः + च + एव (विसर्ग-लोप)
Related Themes: Agni Purana bhuvana-kośa passages listing dvīpas/varṣas; Agni Purana 219 raksha-stotra sequence
FAQs
It teaches a protective recitation (rakṣā-prayoga) invoking named Purāṇic regions (varṣas) as guardians, used as part of a broader stotra for safeguarding oneself through sacred cosmological mapping.
By embedding Purāṇic cosmography (lists of varṣas/regions) inside a functional ritual framework (protection-invocation), it combines geography, theology, and liturgical practice—typical of the Agni Purāṇa’s encyclopedic scope.
Reciting such invocations is traditionally held to generate rakṣā (spiritual protection) and puṇya (merit) by aligning the practitioner with sacred cosmic order and remembering divinely sanctioned realms.