Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 18
Bala-graha-hara Bāla-tantram (बालग्रहहर बालतन्त्रम्) — Pediatric protection and graha-affliction management
धूपो निम्बेन भूतोग्रराजीसर्जरसैर् लिपेत् बलिं वहिर्हरेल्लाजकुल्माषकवकोदनम्
dhūpo nimbena bhūtograrājīsarjarasair lipet baliṃ vahirharellājakulmāṣakavakodanam
សម្រាប់ធូប គួរលាបដោយស្លឹកនឹម និងជ័រ/ទឹកសារធាតុរបស់ភូតោគ្រា រាជី និងសರ್ಜ; ហើយគួរយកបលិទៅខាងក្រៅ—មានអង្ករលី (parched rice) គុល្មាស (សណ្ដែកស្ងោរ) កវក និងអូដន (បាយស cooked rice)។
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purāṇa dialogic frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","secondary_vidya":"Ayurveda","practical_application":"Bhūta-śānti and graha-śamana procedure: prepare dhūpa with neem and resins/juices, smear the ritual area/implements, and dispose of bali offerings outside using specified food items.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Dhūpa-lepana and bahiḥ-bali for bhūta/graha śānti","lookup_keywords":["nimba dhūpa","sarja rasa","bali bahiḥ","lāja kulmāṣa","odana"],"quick_summary":"Gives a practical rite: fumigate and smear using neem and resinous juices, then carry the bali outside consisting of parched rice, boiled pulses, kavaka, and cooked rice to pacify disruptive beings/influences."}
Concept: Śānti-karma as household dharma: purification (dhūpa/lepana) plus proper bali-disposal outside to restore order and well-being.
Application: Codifies a repeatable home/temple protocol for managing perceived negative influences through cleanliness, scent, and ritual boundary-setting.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Bali, Dhupa, and Bhuta-shanti rites)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritualist smears neem and resinous paste on a threshold and fumigates with aromatic smoke; then carries a bali plate outside containing parched rice, boiled pulses, kavaka, and cooked rice, placing it beyond the boundary.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, doorway/threshold scene, neem leaves and resin bowls, thick stylized smoke, ritualist carrying bali plate outside, strong outlines, earthy greens and browns, protective boundary motifs.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, ornate threshold with gold accents, ritualist with decorated bali plate, bowls of neem and sarja resin, incense smoke, rich reds/greens with gold leaf on vessels and borders.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, step-by-step depiction: (1) lepana with neem/resins, (2) dhūpa, (3) bahiḥ-bali with labeled food items; clean instructional layout and delicate shading.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtyard and street boundary, ritualist exiting with bali plate, detailed food textures (lāja, kulmāṣa, odana), attendants holding resin jars, curling smoke, architectural detail and naturalistic palette."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Shuddha Saveri","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: bhūtograrājīsarjarasair = भूत-उग्र-राजी-सर्ज-रसैः; vahirharellājakulmāṣakavakodanam = बहिः + हरेत् + लाज-कुल्माष-कवक-ओदनम् (t/d assimilation and gemination in sandhi).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 298 (bali, dhūpa, lepa sequences for graha/bhūta śānti)
FAQs
It prescribes a bhūta-śānti procedure: fumigation/anointing using neem plus specified resins/seeds, and an external bali offering of defined food items to pacify/ward off disruptive beings.
Alongside theology, it preserves practical ritual technology—materials (neem, sarja-resin, mustard) and exact offering-compositions—showing the Purana’s coverage of applied rites for household/community protection.
By placing bali outside and performing purifying fumigation, the rite is meant to avert inauspicious influences, restore ritual cleanliness, and maintain harmony with unseen forces through propitiation rather than hostility.