Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 11
Bala-graha-hara Bāla-tantram (बालग्रहहर बालतन्त्रम्) — Pediatric protection and graha-affliction management
मेषशृङ्गबलालोध्रशिलातालैः शिशुं लिपेत् फट्कारी तु ग्रही षष्ठी भयमोहप्ररोदनं
meṣaśṛṅgabalālodhraśilātālaiḥ śiśuṃ lipet phaṭkārī tu grahī ṣaṣṭhī bhayamohaprarodanaṃ
Bayi hendaknya diolesi ramuan dari tanduk domba jantan, balā, lodhra, śilā, dan tāla (orpimen). Ini adalah penangkal bagi graha bernama Ṣaṣṭhī yang menimbulkan takut, kebingungan, dan tangisan berlebihan.
Lord Agni (in dialogue, instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Infant-protection and graha-śānti by anointing with specified substances to counter Ṣaṣṭhī-graha symptoms (fear, delusion, crying).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Ṣaṣṭhī-graha śānti lepa for infants (meṣaśṛṅga–balā–lodhra–śilā–tāla)","lookup_keywords":["Ṣaṣṭhī graha","śiśu lepa","balā","lodhra","tāla (orpiment)","meṣaśṛṅga"],"quick_summary":"Gives a protective anointment for infants using ram’s horn and specific herbs/minerals; intended to pacify the graha Ṣaṣṭhī associated with fear, confusion, and incessant crying."}
Concept: Rakṣā of children (bāla-rakṣā) is a dharmic duty, using both medicinal and ritual means when distress is attributed to grahas.
Application: Community/household protective practices around newborns; calming measures paired with culturally sanctioned rites.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda / Bhuta-vidya (Graha-rogas and child-protection rites)
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A caregiver/vaidya gently anoints an infant with a prepared paste; nearby are ram horn pieces, balā and lodhra herbs, mineral powders, and a protective ritual setting indicating warding off Ṣaṣṭhī-graha.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, mother and infant in a domestic shrine space, vaidya applying protective paste, symbolic graha figure subdued in the background, strong outlines and earthy palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, mother holding infant, protective deity/Ṣaṣṭhī motif subtly present, gold leaf accents on ritual vessels, paste bowl and herbs displayed, auspicious composition","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional panel showing ingredients and the step of anointing the infant, delicate shading, calm domestic setting with ritual lamp","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate household scene with physician preparing paste, infant on a cloth, attendants with herb trays, fine architectural interior details"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: मेषशृङ्गबलालोध्रशिलातालैः parsed as a copulative list; internal sandhi resolved by segmentation. भयमोहप्ररोदनम् = भय + मोह + प्ररोदनम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 298 (bāla-graha remedies)
FAQs
It teaches a Bhūta-vidyā/Ayurvedic-style protective application (lepa/anointing) for infants using specific substances to counter the child-afflicting graha Ṣaṣṭhī, associated with fear, confusion, and persistent crying.
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves practical health-protection protocols—naming ingredients, method (smearing), and the targeted condition (graha-affliction)—showing its wide coverage of medicine, folk-ritual, and applied healing.
It functions as a śānti (pacificatory) measure: protecting a vulnerable child from harmful influences (graha-doṣa), restoring mental calm (removing bhaya and moha) and wellbeing, which is treated as both a religious duty and a meritorious act of guardianship.