Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 22
Rudra-śānti (रुद्रशान्ति)
मारणोच्चाटनादीनि विषुवे पञ्चधा पृथक् अधरस्य गृहे पृथ्वी ऊर्ध्वे तेजो ऽन्तरा द्रवः
māraṇoccāṭanādīni viṣuve pañcadhā pṛthak adharasya gṛhe pṛthvī ūrdhve tejo 'ntarā dravaḥ
മാരണ, ഉച്ചാടന മുതലായ കർമ്മങ്ങൾ വിഷുവകാലത്ത് അഞ്ചു വിഭാഗങ്ങളായി വേർതിരിച്ച് വിന്യസിക്കണം. അധഃ ‘ഗൃഹ’ത്തിൽ പൃഥ്വി; ഊർദ്ധ്വത്തിൽ തേജസ് (അഗ്നി); മദ്ധ്യേ ദ്രവ തത്ത്വം (ജലം) സ്ഥിതമാണ്.
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha, standard Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Cosmology","practical_application":"Timing and spatial/elemental partitioning of intense rites (māraṇa, uccāṭana, etc.) using viṣuva and a fivefold scheme aligned to bhūta-regions.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Viṣuva-Kāla: Pañcadhā Karma-Vibhāga & Bhūta-Gṛha Placement","lookup_keywords":["viṣuva","māraṇa","uccāṭana","pañcadhā","bhūta-gṛha"],"quick_summary":"Prescribes that aggressive rites be organized at viṣuva with a fivefold division, mapping elemental ‘houses’: Earth below, Fire above, and Water in the middle (with remaining elements implied by the fivefold scheme)."}
Concept: Ritual efficacy is conditioned by kāla (viṣuva) and by bhūta-nyāsa (elemental spatial ordering).
Application: When planning high-intensity prayogas, align the rite with prescribed temporal nodes and maintain correct elemental placement to stabilize the operation.
Khanda Section: Tantra-Mantra and Ritual Applications (Abhichāra-Karma / Protective & Aggressive Rites)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A vertical cosmogram/maṇḍala showing ‘houses’ or tiers: Earth at the bottom, Water in the middle, Fire at the top; a side panel notes viṣuva timing and fivefold division for māraṇa/uccāṭana rites.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, tiered cosmic diagram with bhūtas personified, earth-brown base, blue water band mid, red fire crown, priest marking viṣuva on a palm-leaf almanac, sacred lamps and kalasha nearby.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, gold-embellished tiered yantra with bhūta bands, ornate frame, viṣuva indicated by sun motif at center, ritual implements in foreground, rich reds and blues with gold highlights.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore instructional plate: labeled tiers ‘pṛthvī-adhaḥ’, ‘jala-madhya’, ‘tejas-ūrdhva’, with a margin note ‘viṣuve pañcadhā’; clean lines, muted palette, didactic clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, astrologer-priest consulting a zij-like chart for viṣuva while assistants arrange a three-tier altar representing earth-water-fire; fine architectural interior, delicate calligraphy labels."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: मारणोच्चाटनादीनि = मारण + उच्चाटन + आदीनि; तेजो ऽन्तरा = तेजः + अन्तरा.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 324 (abhichāra-karmas and elemental/maṇḍala correspondences); Agni Purana 325 (mantra-dhyāna and ritual means like homa)
FAQs
It outlines a technical classification of abhichāra-type rites (e.g., māraṇa, uccāṭana) into a fivefold scheme tied to viṣuva timing, and gives an elemental placement rule (Earth below, Fire above, Fluid in the middle) for arranging the ritual locus/diagram.
It preserves specialized operational details—ritual taxonomy, calendrical timing (equinox), and elemental spatial mapping—showing how the Agni Purana compiles practical manuals alongside theology, making it a multi-disciplinary reference text.
By prescribing correct timing and elemental placement, the text implies that ritual efficacy and karmic consequences depend on precise alignment with cosmic order; misapplication of hostile rites is traditionally considered spiritually hazardous and karmically binding.