Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 1
Pāśupata-Śānti (पाशुपतशान्तिः)
इत्य् आग्नेये महापुराणे अघोरास्त्रादिशान्तिकल्पे नाम विंशत्यधिकत्रिशततमो ऽध्यायः व्यालकाके इति ख अथैकविंशत्यधिकत्रिशततमो ऽध्यायः पाशुपतशान्तिः ईश्वर उवाच वक्ष्ये पाशुपतास्त्रेण शान्तिजापादि पूर्वतः पादतःपूर्वनाशो हि फडन्तं चापदादिनुत्
ity āgneye mahāpurāṇe aghorāstrādiśāntikalpe nāma viṃśatyadhikatriśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ vyālakāke iti kha athaikaviṃśatyadhikatriśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ pāśupataśāntiḥ īśvara uvāca vakṣye pāśupatāstreṇa śāntijāpādi pūrvataḥ pādataḥpūrvanāśo hi phaḍantaṃ cāpadādinut
Demikianlah dalam Agni Mahāpurāṇa, bab ke-320 berjudul “Śānti-kalpa mengenai Aghora-astra dan lainnya” (dalam sebagian resensi diberi catatan khāṇḍa ‘vyāla-kāke’) berakhir. Kini dimulai bab ke-321, “Pāśupata-Śānti”. Sang Īśvara bersabda: “Akan Kuuraikan tata-penenteraman dengan mantra senjata Pāśupata, diawali japa-śānti dan tata pendahuluannya. Sesungguhnya pemusnahan rintangan mula-mula dikerjakan dari ‘kaki’ (bagian/penempatan awal); dan mantra yang berakhir dengan seruan ‘phaḍ’ dipakai untuk menolak bencana dan sejenisnya.”
Īśvara (Śiva) as the direct speaker in this chapter heading/verse
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Introduces a structured śānti-kalpa for the Pāśupata astra: preliminaries (japa etc.), mantra-application principles (pāda/‘feet’ placement), and use of ‘phaḍ’-ending for calamity removal.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Pāśupata-Śānti: Preliminaries, Pāda-krama, and Phaḍ-Application","lookup_keywords":["Pāśupata-śānti","śānti-japa","pāda-krama","phaḍ-anta","āpada-nivṛtti"],"quick_summary":"The chapter frames a Pāśupata astra appeasement rite beginning with japa and preliminaries. It highlights a technical rule: obstacle-destruction is effected first from the ‘feet’ (initial placement/segment), and ‘phaḍ’-ending mantras are applied to remove calamities."}
Weapon Type: Pāśupata Astra (mantra-weapon)
Concept: Mantra efficacy is procedural: correct preliminaries and correct application/placement (nyāsa/krama) govern results; śānti is an applied technology of dharma.
Application: When adopting powerful mantras/astrās, begin with pacification and rule-bound deployment to avoid misapplication and to neutralize obstacles.
Khanda Section: Shanti-kalpa (Tantric/Mantric appeasement rites for astras and afflictions)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A teaching scene: Īśvara instructs a sage/ritualist, pointing to a manuscript or yantra-like diagram indicating ‘pāda’ sequence; nearby a homa altar and ritual implements; the word ‘phaḍ’ visually inscribed as a protective seal.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: seated Īśvara as teacher with calm yet potent presence, disciple with palm-leaf manuscript, symbolic foot/‘pāda’ markers around a yantra, homa fire at side, traditional flat composition.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: Īśvara enthroned, gold halo, disciple receiving instruction; ornate manuscript and ritual vessels with gold highlights; protective ‘phaḍ’ seal motif in border.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: didactic layout—diagrammatic ‘pāda’ sequence, mantra segments, and ritual preliminaries shown with fine lines; teacher-disciple scene in soft colors.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: scholarly assembly with a deity-like teacher figure, scribes and ritualists, illustrated manuscript showing mantra segmentation; detailed pavilion and instruments."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: इत्य् = इति + (अ) (यणादेश/avagraha-like elision in recitation). ऽध्यायः = अध्यायः (avagraha after vowel). पादतःपूर्वनाशः = पादतः + पूर्वनाशः. चापदादिनुत् = च + आपदादिनुत् (a + ā sandhi).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 320 (Aghorāstra-ādi śānti-kalpa); Agni Purana 321 (Pāśupata-śānti continuation with specific astras)
FAQs
It introduces the Pāśupata-Śānti: a Śaiva pacificatory method using Pāśupatāstra mantra-japa and preliminaries, highlighting the practical use of a “phaḍ”-ending mantra to repel calamities.
By cataloging and systematizing specialized ritual technologies—astra-mantras (Aghora, Pāśupata), śānti-kalpas, and mantric phonemes like “phaḍ”—the text functions as a compendium spanning protection rites, mantra-science, and applied religious practice.
The verse frames the rite as obstacle-removal and calamity-averting purification: correct mantra-japa and protective application are presented as means to restore auspiciousness (śānti) and reduce the karmic/ritual fallout of afflictions.