Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 23
Trailokya-mohinī Śrī-Lakṣmī-ādi-pūjā and Durgā-yoga
Protective and Siddhi Rites
शङ्खचक्राब्जशूलादित्रिशूलां रौद्ररूपिणीं युद्धादौ सञ्जयेदेतां यजेत् खड्गादिके जये
śaṅkhacakrābjaśūlāditriśūlāṃ raudrarūpiṇīṃ yuddhādau sañjayedetāṃ yajet khaḍgādike jaye
युद्धाच्या आरंभी शंख, चक्र, कमळ, शूल इत्यादी व त्रिशूल धारण करणाऱ्या रौद्ररूपिणी देवीचे मनाने आवाहन करून तिला सञ्जय करावे. खड्गादी शस्त्रांत विजयासाठी तिची विधिपूर्वक पूजा करावी.
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the common Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","practical_application":"Pre-battle devī-upāsanā for steadiness of mind, protection, and weapon-victory; used as a ritual prelude to combat or competitive trials involving arms.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Raudra-Devī worship for victory in battle and weapons","lookup_keywords":["Raudra-Devī","yuddha-ārambha","khadga-jaya","śaṅkha-cakra-śūla","vijaya-upāsanā"],"quick_summary":"At the start of battle, invoke the fierce-form Goddess with specified weapons and worship her to secure victory, especially in sword and allied weapons."}
Weapon Type: Sword (khaḍga) and allied weapons; spear/trident as divine emblems
Concept: Śakti as the empowering ground of action (kriyā-śakti) in perilous undertakings; victory sought through alignment of will, mantra, and worship.
Application: Before high-risk action, perform a focused invocation/visualization to reduce fear, increase resolve, and sacralize duty.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Tantra (Raudra-Devi worship for victory in battle and weapons)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A warrior at the battlefield’s threshold invokes a fierce multi-armed Goddess holding conch, discus, lotus, spear and trident; offerings arranged near weapons for consecration and victory.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, Raudra Devī multi-armed with śaṅkha-cakra-padma-śūla-triśūla, vivid mineral pigments, bold outlines, battlefield threshold with a kneeling warrior offering flowers and lamp, protective aura, traditional ornamentation","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Raudra Devī seated frontally with multiple arms holding conch discus lotus spear trident, rich jewelry, gold foil halo and arch, a sword placed on a pedestal receiving worship, deep red-green palette","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, instructional composition: warrior performing pre-battle pūjā to Devī, labeled weapons (khaḍga etc.), soft shading, delicate lines, calm but intense devotional focus","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed battlefield camp scene, warrior invoking a radiant fierce Goddess apparition above, conch-disc-lotus-trident visible, fine textiles and armor, intricate landscape and attendants"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सञ्जयेदेताम् = सञ्जयेत् + एताम् (त् + ए → दे); खड्गादिके = खड्ग + आदिके; शङ्खचक्राब्जशूलादित्रिशूलाम् = शङ्ख-चक्र-अब्ज-शूल-आदि-त्रिशूलाम् (समास)
Related Themes: Agni Purana Puja-vidhi sections on Devī-upāsanā and victory rites (jaya-prayoga); Agni Purana chapters on astras/mantras and protective rites (rakṣā-vidhi)
FAQs
It teaches a jaya-prayoga: invoking and worshipping a fierce (Raudra) form of the Goddess—visualized with specific divine weapons—at the start of battle to secure victory, especially in sword-combat and allied weapon use.
Alongside theology, the Agni Purana preserves applied ritual instructions for practical domains like warfare—linking deity-visualization, worship (yajana), and success in weapons (khaḍga-ādi), showing how religious rites were integrated with statecraft and martial practice.
By orienting battle-action through sanctioned worship and dharmic invocation, the act is framed as ritually purified and divinely aligned, seeking protection and victory while reducing the taint of violent action through devotion and right procedure.