Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 6
Adhyaya 314 — Tvaritājñāna
Immediate/Quick Knowledge) (Colophon/Transition
ततः सञ्जायते शत्रोस्तम्भनं मुखरागतः कृत्वा तु भैरवं रूपं मालामन्त्रं समालिखेत्
tataḥ sañjāyate śatrostambhanaṃ mukharāgataḥ kṛtvā tu bhairavaṃ rūpaṃ mālāmantraṃ samālikhet
បន្ទាប់មក ការធ្វើឲ្យសត្រូវស្ដប់ស្ដឹង (ស្តម្ភន) កើតឡើងដោយពិធីដែលបញ្ចេញតាមមាត់; ហើយបង្កើតរូបភៃរវ (Bhairava) រួចសរសេរមន្ត «មាលា» (garland-mantra) ចុះ។
Lord Agni (in dialogue with sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Stambhana (immobilization) via vocalized rite, Bhairava-form visualization/diagramming, and inscription of a mālā-mantra for operative deployment.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Bhairava-rūpa with mālā-mantra inscription for stambhana","lookup_keywords":["stambhana","Bhairava-rūpa","mālā-mantra","mukha-rāga","samālikh"],"quick_summary":"The rite emphasizes spoken activation (mukha) plus constructing Bhairava’s form and writing the garland-mantra as the operative seal to immobilize an enemy."}
Concept: Vāk-śakti (spoken utterance) is treated as a direct causal instrument when joined to rūpa-kalpanā (form-construction) and lekhana (inscription).
Application: Coordinate three ‘channels’—speech, visualization/diagram, and written mantra—so the rite is not merely recited but also ‘fixed’ (lekhita) and ‘formed’ (rūpita).
Khanda Section: Tantra-Mantra Vidya (Stambhana / Abhichara-prayoga)
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A practitioner intones a rite, then draws/constructs a Bhairava-form and inscribes a circular garland-mantra around it, symbolically binding an enemy’s agency.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Bhairava with fierce eyes and dark aura, mantra-garland written as a ring, priest chanting with hand gestures, oil lamps and ritual palm-leaf writing tools","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, Bhairava icon central with gold halo, mantra garland as ornate script ring, priest holding stylus and manuscript, heavy gold embellishment on borders","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean instructional depiction of ‘rūpa’ diagram and surrounding mālā-mantra, labeled segments, subdued palette, emphasis on legible script and geometry","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, atelier scene with a yogin drawing Bhairava on paper/cloth, circular mantra inscription, assistants holding ink and pigments, intricate carpet patterns"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: शत्रोस्तम्भनं → शत्रोः + स्तम्भनम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 314.7 (explicit stambhana mantra and lekhana details); Agni Purana 314.8-314.9 (battle/vaśīkaraṇa tilaka applications)
FAQs
It teaches a stambhana (immobilization) prayoga: vocal mantra-recitation (mukha) combined with forming/visualizing Bhairava’s fierce icon and writing (samālikhet) a mālā-mantra in a prescribed sequence.
Alongside dharma, polity, medicine, and arts, the Agni Purana also preserves applied mantra-śāstra—practical ritual technologies such as stambhana, including method elements like recitation, visualization/iconography, and mantra-inscription.
By invoking Bhairava through disciplined speech and written mantra-form, the rite is framed as a potent (and ethically weighty) act of ritual power; it implies responsibility, since such abhichāra-oriented techniques can bind or obstruct another’s agency.