Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 4
Pañcāṅga-Rudra-vidhāna
The Fivefold Rudra Rite
ऋषिः स्याच्छिवमङ्कल्पश्छन्दस्त्रिष्टुवुदाहृतं शिवः सहस्रशीर्षेति तस्य नारायणो ऽप्यृषिः
ṛṣiḥ syācchivamaṅkalpaśchandastriṣṭuvudāhṛtaṃ śivaḥ sahasraśīrṣeti tasya nārāyaṇo 'pyṛṣiḥ
ṛṣi（聖見者）はシヴァマンカルパ（Śivamaṅkalpa）であると言われ、韻律（chandas）はトリシュトゥブ（Triṣṭubh）と宣言される。神格は「千の頭をもつ者」と讃えられるシヴァであり、その讃歌についてはナーラーヤナ（Nārāyaṇa）もまたṛṣiとして認められる。
Lord Agni (narrating Agni Purana’s ritual/mantra protocol, traditionally to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Alamkara","practical_application":"Assign ṛṣi–chandas–devatā metadata (viniyoga) before recitation to ensure correct ritual application and efficacy.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Rudra-sūkta viniyoga: ṛṣi–chandas–devatā (Śivamaṅkalpa; Triṣṭubh; Śiva Sahasraśīrṣa)","lookup_keywords":["ṛṣi chandas devatā","Śivamaṅkalpa ṛṣi","Triṣṭubh chandas","Śiva sahasraśīrṣa","Nārāyaṇa ṛṣi"],"quick_summary":"Specifies the canonical identifiers for a hymn: its seer, meter, and deity; notes an additional ṛṣi attribution to Nārāyaṇa for the ‘sahasraśīrṣa’ praise-context."}
Concept: Vedic-style anukramaṇī principle: mantra efficacy is tied to correct identification of ṛṣi, chandas, and devatā.
Application: Before japa/homa, state viniyoga to align intention, meter, and deity-focus; useful for priests compiling prayoga manuals.
Khanda Section: Mantra-vidhi / Chandas–Rishi–Devata-Nirdesha (Hymn metadata and ritual recitation protocol)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual manual page lists ṛṣi–chandas–devatā; above it appears Śiva in a cosmic thousand-headed vision, while a reciter points to the Triṣṭubh meter mark.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, cosmic Śiva with multiple heads suggested in stylized repetition, priest holding palm-leaf manuscript, side panel with ‘ṛṣi–chandas–devatā’ labels, bold outlines and temple palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, grand Sahasraśīrṣa Śiva with layered crowns, heavy gold work, manuscript and stylus in foreground indicating metadata, symmetrical devotional composition.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, didactic chart: three headings ṛṣi/chandas/devatā with entries Śivamaṅkalpa, Triṣṭubh, Śiva; faint cosmic Śiva vignette above; clean, instructional aesthetic.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, illuminated manuscript folio with marginalia naming ṛṣi and meter; visionary cloud-form of multi-headed Śiva above the page; fine calligraphy and borders."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: स्याच्छिवमङ्कल्पः = स्यात् + शिवमङ्कल्पः; शिवमङ्कल्पश्छन्दः = शिवमङ्कल्पः + छन्दः; छन्दस्त्रिष्टुप् = छन्दः + त्रिष्टुप्; त्रिष्टुवुदाहृतम् = त्रिष्टुप् + उदाहृतम्; सहस्रशीर्षेति = सहस्रशीर्षा + इति; नारायणो ऽपि = नारायणः + अपि
Related Themes: Agni Purana 295 (chandas–ṛṣi–devatā nirdesha section)
FAQs
It teaches mantra-recitation protocol: identifying the mantra’s ṛṣi (seer), chandas (meter), and devatā (presiding deity)—key components of viniyoga used before chanting.
Beyond narrative theology, it catalogs liturgical technicalities (ṛṣi–chandas–devatā mapping), showing the text’s compendium-style coverage of ritual science and hymn classification.
Correctly knowing and applying ṛṣi–chandas–devatā is held to make recitation precise and efficacious, aligning the chanter with the mantra’s lineage, form, and deity for purificatory and merit-bearing results.