Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 2
Chapter 326 — देवालयमाहात्म्यम्
The Glory of Temples
हेमरत्रमयं भूत्यै महाशङ्खञ्च मारणे आप्यायने शङ्खसूत्रं मौक्तिकं पुत्रवर्धनम्
hemaratramayaṃ bhūtyai mahāśaṅkhañca māraṇe āpyāyane śaṅkhasūtraṃ mauktikaṃ putravardhanam
ಚಿನ್ನ ಮತ್ತು ರಕ್ತಮಣಿಯಿಂದ ಮಾಡಿದ ತಾಯಿತವು ಐಶ್ವರ್ಯ ನೀಡುತ್ತದೆ; ಮಹಾಶಂಖವು ಮಾರಣಕರ್ಮದಲ್ಲಿ ಉಪಯುಕ್ತ. ಪೋಷಣೆ‑ವೃದ್ಧಿಗೆ ಶಂಖಸೂತ್ರ ವಿಧೇಯ; ಮುತ್ತಿನ ಸೂತ್ರವು ಸಂತಾನವೃದ್ಧಿಕರ.
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s encyclopedic sections)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Selection and wearing of specific gem/organic talismans (mani, shankha, mukta) for targeted ritual aims—prosperity, māraṇa-rites, nourishment, and progeny.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Maṇi–śaṅkha–mauktika dhāraṇa-phala (talismanic results)","lookup_keywords":["hema-raktamaṇi","mahāśaṅkha","māraṇa","śaṅkha-sūtra","mauktika-sūtra"],"quick_summary":"Gold with raktamaṇi is prescribed for bhūti (prosperity). Great conch is assigned to māraṇa; conch-thread to nourishment/increase; pearl-thread to increase of offspring."}
Concept: Dravya (substance) as upāya: specific materials are mapped to specific siddhi/phalāni in ritual life.
Application: Choose materials for malas/threads/amulets according to intended prayojana; avoid indiscriminate mixing of aims (bhūti vs māraṇa).
Khanda Section: Ratna-śāstra / Maṇi-dhāraṇa-phala (Gemology and talismanic uses of substances)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual specialist presenting four talismanic items—gold with red gem, a large conch, a conch-thread, and a pearl-thread—each labeled with its intended result (prosperity, māraṇa, nourishment, progeny).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, warm mineral pigments, a seated ācārya displaying hema-raktamaṇi amulet, mahāśaṅkha, śaṅkha-sūtra, mauktika-sūtra; palm-leaf manuscript beside; flat iconic composition, ornate borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold foil highlights on the gold amulet and pearl-thread, richly dressed priest in a shrine setting, conch rendered prominently, embossed ornaments, deep red-green palette.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, fine linework and soft shading, instructional tableau with four objects arranged on a ritual cloth, small captions in Devanagari, calm indoor puja setting.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed textiles and objects, a courtly pandit demonstrating talismans to a patron, precise rendering of conch and pearl string, architectural niche background."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shuddha Kalyan","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: हेमरत्रमयम् = हेमरात्रमयम् (रात्र > रत्र in some recensions/orthography); महाशङ्खञ्च = महाशङ्खम् + च.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Ratna-śāstra sections on maṇi-parīkṣā and dhāraṇa-phala; Agni Purana Puja-vidhi/Japa-vidhi on mālā-niyama
FAQs
It assigns specific materials (gold/red-gem talisman, great conch, conch-thread, pearl-thread) to specific ritual aims—prosperity (bhūti), māraṇa-karman, nourishment/augmentation (āpyāyana), and progeny-increase (putra-vṛddhi).
It exemplifies the Agni Purāṇa’s practical cataloging of applied knowledge—ratna-śāstra and ritual technology—linking physical substances to intended outcomes in prosperity rites, aggressive rites (māraṇa), and household welfare aims like health and offspring.
The verse frames material objects as supports (upakaraṇa) within intention-driven rites; when used within prescribed dharmic restraints and ritual discipline, they are presented as means to secure welfare (bhūti), vitality (āpyāyana), and lineage-continuity (putra-vardhana).