Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 26
Chapter 301 — सूर्यार्चनं
Sūryārcana) / Sun-worship (closing colophon only
मारीनिर्नाशनकरः स मां पातु जगत्पतिः श्लोकौ चैव न्यसेदेतौ मन्त्रौ गोरक्षकौ पृथक्
mārīnirnāśanakaraḥ sa māṃ pātu jagatpatiḥ ślokau caiva nyasedetau mantrau gorakṣakau pṛthak
मारी (महामारी) नाश करणारा जगत्पती मला रक्षो. हे दोन श्लोक वेगवेगळे न्यास करावेत—हे गो-रक्षणासाठी दोन स्वतंत्र मंत्र आहेत।
Lord Agni (in dialogue to sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Nyāsa and separate deployment of two protective mantra-verses for cattle protection and pestilence-destruction (māri-nāśana).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Gorakṣā-mantra nyāsa (two-verse deployment)","lookup_keywords":["māri-nāśana","gorakṣā","nyāsa","jagatpati","mantra-dvaya"],"quick_summary":"Invoke the world-lord as destroyer of pestilence for protection, and perform nyāsa of the two verses separately as distinct mantras specifically for safeguarding cattle."}
Alamkara Type: Stuti-vākya (protective praise)
Concept: Nyāsa and mantra-bheda (distinct mantras) as method: correct placement and separation of mantras is part of efficacy.
Application: Ritual protocol for practitioners: keep mantras distinct, apply nyāsa properly for targeted protection (cattle).
Khanda Section: Mantra-raksha & Shanti-kalpa (Protective Mantras and Apotropaic Rites)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A practitioner performs nyāsa—touching specific body points while reciting two separate protective verses—then gestures toward the cattle-shed as the intended field of protection.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, close-up of priest performing nyāsa with hand-to-body gestures, cattle-shed in background, protective aura motifs, restrained palette and strong outlines.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, priest with gold-highlighted sacred thread and ornaments, hands in nyāsa mudrā, cattle behind with decorative gold accents, serene protective composition.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional sequence panels: (1) recite verse, (2) nyāsa touches, (3) separate second mantra, (4) protection directed to cows; fine lines and clear spacing.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate ritual scene with precise hand gestures, attendants watching, cattle visible through an archway, delicate detailing of posture and setting."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: मारीनिर्नाशनकरः = मारीनि-नाशन-करः; जगत्पतिः = जगत्-पतिः; चैव = च एव; न्यसेदेतौ = न्यसेत् एतौ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 301.25-301.26 (gorakṣā and māri-śānti mantras)
FAQs
It teaches mantra-rakṣā practice: performing nyāsa (ritual placement/installation) of two specific ślokas as two separate mantras intended for go-rakṣā (protection of cattle) and for warding off mārī (epidemic affliction).
Beyond mythology, it preserves applied ritual technology—how to operationalize verses as functional mantras via nyāsa—showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of practical shānti and protective rites alongside broader dharma and theology.
Invoking the Jagatpati for protection and using mantras for go-rakṣā supports dharmic caretaking of cattle (a valued responsibility), while the shānti intent (mārī-nāśana) aligns the practitioner with purification and welfare-oriented merit.