Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 93
Ṛग्विधानम् (Ṛgvidhāna) — Applications of Ṛgvedic Mantras through Japa and Homa
मयो भूर्वात इत्य् एतत् गवां स्वस्त्ययनं परं शाम्बरीमिन्द्रजालं वा मायामेतेन वारयेत्
mayo bhūrvāta ity etat gavāṃ svastyayanaṃ paraṃ śāmbarīmindrajālaṃ vā māyāmetena vārayet
«mayo bhūr vāta …»—នេះជាវិធីស្វស្ត្យយន (svastyayana) ដ៏ខ្ពង់ខ្ពស់ សម្រាប់គោ។ ដោយវា គួរទប់ស្កាត់សាម្បរី (Śāmbarī) មន្តអាបធ្មប់, ឥន្ទ្រជាល (Indrajāla) ការល្បិចភាន់ភ្លេច, ឬម៉ាយា (māyā) គ្រប់ប្រភេទ។
Lord Agni (narrating to sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s instructional discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Protective svastyayana for cattle-health and herd-safety; countermeasure against sorcery/illusion (Śāmbarī, Indrajāla, māyā) affecting livestock and property.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Gavāṃ Svastyayana: ‘Mayo bhūr vāta…’ for Cattle and Anti-Sorcery","lookup_keywords":["mayo bhur vata","gavam svastyayana","shambari","indrajala","maya nivarana"],"quick_summary":"The formula ‘mayo bhūr vāta…’ is prescribed as a supreme auspicious protection for cattle. It is also used to ward off Śāmbarī sorcery, Indrajāla conjuring, and deceptive māyā."}
Concept: Auspicious speech (svasti-mantra) as protective order against chaos (māyā/abhicāra), safeguarding livelihood and ritual economy centered on cattle.
Application: Perform svastyayana recitation in the cowshed/pasture during perceived threats, combining vigilance and ethical husbandry with mantra-based apotropaic practice.
Khanda Section: Mantra-prayoga & Raksha (Protective rites, counter-magic, and auspicious formulas)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A cowshed scene where a priest or herdsman recites ‘mayo bhūr vāta…’ while circling the herd; dark illusory forms (Indrajāla/Śāmbarī) are shown retreating beyond a protective boundary.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized cows with ornate markings, chanter holding japa-mālā and lamp, protective circular aura around herd, shadowy sorcery motifs dissolving at the edges, bold reds/greens typical of temple murals","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central sacred cow and calf with gold-leaf embellishments, priest performing svastyayana with gold halo, auspicious symbols and floral borders, evil-magic motifs pushed to the margin","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear procedural depiction: cows in a row, reciter facing east, protective sprinkling/gesture implied, subtle depiction of ‘illusion’ as fading smoke; refined linework for instructional clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, pastoral landscape with herd, a reciting figure near a small shrine, detailed animals and attendants; Indrajāla shown as faint mirage-like figures retreating into the trees"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"protective","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: इत्य् एतत्→इति+एतत्; शाम्बरीमिन्द्रजालं→शाम्बरीम्+इन्द्रजालम्; मायामेतेन→मायाम्+एतेन
Related Themes: Agni Purana 258 (svastyayana and anti-abhicāra mantras)
FAQs
It teaches a specific svastyayana-mantra application for go-rakṣā (protecting cattle), prescribing it as a countermeasure to hostile magical operations such as Śāmbarī and Indrajāla.
Beyond theology, it preserves applied ritual technology—practical mantras and protective procedures for livestock and community welfare—showing the text’s coverage of everyday risk-management (illness, misfortune, sorcery) alongside doctrine.
Protecting cows is treated as a dhārmic act; employing a svastyayana aims to restore auspicious order (śānti) and repel adharma-based harm, supporting both material welfare and religious merit through safeguarding a revered living being.