Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 40
Bala-graha-hara Bāla-tantram (बालग्रहहर बालतन्त्रम्) — Pediatric protection and graha-affliction management
मांसपाद्यसमद्याद्यैर् बलिः स्नानञ्च धूपनम् अष्टमे वा जातवेदा निराहारं प्ररोदनम्
māṃsapādyasamadyādyair baliḥ snānañca dhūpanam aṣṭame vā jātavedā nirāhāraṃ prarodanam
मांस, शिजविलेले अन्न इत्यादी व मद्यादि सह बलि द्यावी; स्नान व धूपनही करावे. किंवा आठव्या दिवशी जातवेदा (अग्नी)साठी निराहार व्रत करून विधिपूर्वक विलाप/रडणे करावे.
Lord Agni (traditionally instructing Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s dialogic frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Performance of bali, snāna, dhūpana, and an alternative fasting-lament rite for Jātavedas (Agni) as appeasement/expiation in ominous periods.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Jātavedas-śānti: māṃsa-annamadyādi-bali, snāna-dhūpana; aṣṭama-kāla nirāhāra-rodana","lookup_keywords":["Jātavedas","bali","dhūpana","nirāhāra","śānti"],"quick_summary":"Gives a ritual protocol: bali with meat/food and liquor plus bathing and fumigation; alternatively on the eighth period, fasting and ritual crying as propitiation for Agni (Jātavedas)."}
Concept: Daiva-vyapāśraya (ritual appeasement) as a response to ominous signs—offering, purification, austerity, and emotional catharsis (rodana) to restore order.
Application: Choose the prescribed rite according to time/omen: perform bali with specified upacāras, or adopt fasting with penitential lament in the eighth period.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Bali, Homa, and expiatory/appeasement rites connected with Jātavedas/Agni)
Primary Rasa: Śānta
Secondary Rasa: Bhayānaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual setting: offerings of meat, cooked food, and liquor placed as bali; a person bathes and incense smoke rises; alternate scene shows an ascetic fast with penitential crying before a sacred fire (Jātavedas).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, central Agni altar with tall flames, attendants holding bali plates (meat, rice, vessels), curling incense smoke, a fasting devotee with wet eyes in añjali, warm ochres and reds","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, Agni as radiant flame-deity, gold-leaf on fire and vessels, ornate bali tray with food and madya pot, devotee in white observing nirāhāra, rich temple backdrop","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear step-by-step ritual diagram: bali items arranged, snāna pot, dhūpa holder, then fasting devotee seated near homa-kuṇḍa; fine lines and soft shading","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtyard homa with detailed utensils, servants presenting offerings, incense brazier, a penitent figure fasting and weeping, architectural arches and patterned textiles"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: आद्यैर् = आद्यैः; स्नानञ्च = स्नानम् + च.
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa sections on homa/bali-vidhi and prāyaścitta; Agni Purāṇa 298 (time-wise śānti prescriptions)
FAQs
It prescribes a specific appeasement procedure: bali offerings using meat/edibles and intoxicants, plus purification (snāna) and dhūpana, with an alternative observance of fasting and prarodanam on the eighth day for Jātavedas (Agni).
It exemplifies the Agni Purāṇa’s practical ritual cataloging—detailing concrete materials (offerings, incense), timings (eighth day), and alternative observances—alongside other domains the text covers (law, polity, medicine, architecture, and poetics).
The acts function as śānti/propitiation: offerings and purification are meant to pacify adverse influences and secure divine favor, while fasting and penitential lamentation emphasize austerity and remorse as purifying, merit-producing alternatives.