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
ຜູ້ໃດທີ່ຄໍແລະຮິມຝີປາກເຄື່ອນອອກຈາກທີ່ປົກກະຕິ, ດັ່ງຈົມູກບິດ, ແລະລີ້ນກາຍເປັນສີດຳ—ຊີວິດຂອງຜູ້ນັ້ນແທ້ໆຈະຢູ່ໄດ້ພຽງເຈັດມື້ (ໜຶ່ງອາທິດ) ເທົ່ານັ້ນ.
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.