Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 2
Worship by Limb-Syllables
Aṅgākṣara-arcana
कण्टोष्ठौ चलतःस्थानाद्यस्य वक्रा च नासिका कृष्णा च जिह्वा सप्ताहं जीवितं तस्य वै भवेत्
kaṇṭoṣṭhau calataḥsthānādyasya vakrā ca nāsikā kṛṣṇā ca jihvā saptāhaṃ jīvitaṃ tasya vai bhavet
ಯಾರ ಕಂಠ ಮತ್ತು ತುಟಿಗಳು ತಮ್ಮ ಸ್ಥಾನದಿಂದ ಸರಿಯುತ್ತವೋ, ಮೂಗು ವಕ್ರವಾಗುತ್ತದೋ, ನಾಲಿಗೆ ಕಪ್ಪಾಗುತ್ತದೋ—ಅವನ ಆಯುಷ್ಯ ನಿಶ್ಚಯವಾಗಿ (ಮಾತ್ರ) ಒಂದು ವಾರವೇ ಇರುತ್ತದೆ।
Lord Agni (in instruction to Sage Vasiṣṭha, as the Agni Purana’s primary narrative frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Use arishta-lakshanas (fatal prognostic signs) to assess imminent mortality and guide urgent care, family preparation, and ritual/ethical decisions.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Saptāha-maraṇa-ariṣṭa: Displacement of throat/lips, crooked nose, black tongue","lookup_keywords":["ariṣṭa-lakṣaṇa","kṛṣṇā jihvā","vakrā nāsikā","kaṇṭhoṣṭha calana","saptāha jīvitam"],"quick_summary":"If throat and lips deviate from normal position, the nose becomes crooked, and the tongue turns black, the text marks a one-week life expectancy—an arishta indicating terminal decline."}
Dosha: Tridosha
Concept: Recognition of life’s impermanence and the physician’s duty to discern prognosis (sādhya/asādhya) to act ethically.
Application: When such arishta signs appear, shift goals from cure to comfort, truth-telling, and dharmic preparation (dāna, mantra, reconciliation).
Khanda Section: Ayurveda / Arishta-lakshana (Prognostic signs of imminent death)
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"An Ayurvedic physician observes a patient: lips and throat appear displaced, nose bent, tongue darkened—an ominous diagnostic moment indicating seven days of life.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, vaidya with palm-leaf notes examining patient’s mouth, stylized blackened tongue, subdued ochres and reds, compassionate attendants, temple-lamp glow, solemn border motifs","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, physician seated with herbal box but shown pausing in grave recognition, patient reclining, gold halo accents on physician, rich textiles, emphasis on facial signs (crooked nose, dark tongue)","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional medical illustration: close, clear depiction of facial/oral arishta signs with labeled features, soft colors, precise linework, minimal background","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, hakim-like physician in a chamber examining patient, detailed facial anatomy, attendants with water bowl, muted palette, fine shading conveying pallor and ominous tongue discoloration"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"somber","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कण्टोष्ठौ→कण्ठ-ओष्ठौ; चलतःस्थानात्→चलतः स्थानात्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Ayurveda/ariṣṭa-lakṣaṇa passages in the same khanda (prognosis and signs of death)
FAQs
Ayurvedic ariṣṭa-vidyā (prognostics): specific bodily deformities—displacement of throat/lips, crooked nose, and blackened tongue—are taught as signs indicating only about a week of remaining life.
It shows the Agni Purana’s medical-technical coverage beyond mythology—preserving Ayurveda-style diagnostic and prognostic markers (ariṣṭa-lakṣaṇas) used for clinical judgment about survival.
By recognizing imminent-death signs, one is prompted to complete dharmic duties—confession, charity, mantra-japa, and remembrance of the divine—so the final period is used for purification and right intention.