Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 80
Ṛग्विधानम् (Ṛgvidhāna) — Applications of Ṛgvedic Mantras through Japa and Homa
क्षीणायुरिति मन्येत यङ्कञ्चित् सुहृदं प्रियं यत्तेयमिति तु स्नातस्तस्य मूर्धानमालभेत्
kṣīṇāyuriti manyeta yaṅkañcit suhṛdaṃ priyaṃ yatteyamiti tu snātastasya mūrdhānamālabhet
ຖ້າຄິດວ່າ «ອາຍຸຂ້ອຍກຳລັງຫຼຸດລົງ» ແລ້ວ—ຫຼັງຈາກອາບນ້ຳ—ຄວນວາງມືແຕະທີ່ສີສະຂອງມິດສະຫາຍຜູ້ຮັກໃຄ່ຄົນໃດກໍໄດ້ ແລ້ວກ່າວວ່າ «ນີ້ເປັນຂອງເຈົ້າ».
Lord Agni (in discourse to Vasiṣṭha, as per the Agni Purana’s standard narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"A simple śānti/āyuḥ-prayoga: bathing, then transferring/warding off perceived life-decline by touching a beloved friend’s head with a dedicatory utterance.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Āyuḥ-śānti by snāna and head-touch with dedicatory utterance","lookup_keywords":["kṣīṇāyuḥ","snāta","mūrdhāna ālabheta","śānti-karma","āyuḥ-prayoga"],"quick_summary":"When one fears dwindling lifespan, one bathes and performs a head-touch rite on a dear friend while uttering a dedicatory formula (“this is yours”), functioning as a pacificatory/transfer-warding act."}
Concept: Śānti through śauca (purity) and mantra-vāk (ritual speech) directed via a symbolic act (touch).
Application: Perform snāna, then a calm, intentional head-touch with the stated formula as a remedial rite when fearful of impending misfortune.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Shanti-karma (Auspicious rites and remedial rituals)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A person after bathing, hair still damp, respectfully touching the head of a beloved friend/relative while speaking a short dedicatory formula; a calm domestic/ritual setting.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, two figures in profile, one with wet hair and simple cloth, hand placed on the other’s head, serene expressions, minimal ritual vessels, flat ornamental background.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, richly dressed figures with gold embellishments, the blessing/touch gesture emphasized, ornate border, ritual water pot and towel rendered with gold highlights.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, gentle pastel palette, clear depiction of snāna context (water pot, towel), precise hand-on-head gesture, didactic composition.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate indoor scene with patterned carpets, water basin nearby, subtle facial expressions, fine linework showing the touch on the crown of the head."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: क्षीणायुरिति → क्षीणायुः + इति; यङ्कञ्चित् → यम् + कञ्चित्; यत्तेयमिति → यत् + ते + इयम् + इति; स्नातस्तस्य → स्नातः + तस्य; मूर्धानमालभेत् → मूर्धानम् + आलभेत्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 258 (Pūjā-vidhi / Śānti-karma subsections)
FAQs
A simple śānti-prayoga: after ritual bathing, one performs a remedial act by touching the head of a dear friend/well-wisher while uttering a dedicatory formula (“This is yours”), intended as a longevity-warding measure.
It exemplifies the Agni Purana’s practical catalog of applied rites (prayogas)—brief, usable instructions alongside larger theological and philosophical material—showing its breadth as a manual of ritual remedies.
Snāna signifies purification; the respectful head-touch with a dedicatory utterance functions as a propitiatory, merit-oriented act meant to avert inauspiciousness connected with feared loss of longevity.