Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 17
The Six Limbs (Ṣaḍaṅga) of the Aghora-Astra (अघोरास्त्राणि षडङ्गानि)
ॐ क्षुंसः वषट् महामृत्युञ्जयो मन्त्रो जप्याद्धोमाच्च पुष्टिकृत् ॐ हंसः ह्रूं हूं स ह्रः सौंः मृतसञ्जीवनी विद्यां अष्टार्णा जयकृद्रणे
oṃ kṣuṃsaḥ vaṣaṭ mahāmṛtyuñjayo mantro japyāddhomācca puṣṭikṛt oṃ haṃsaḥ hrūṃ hūṃ sa hraḥ sauṃḥ mṛtasañjīvanī vidyāṃ aṣṭārṇā jayakṛdraṇe
महामृत्युञ्जय मंत्र—“ॐ क्षुंसः वषट्”—याचा जप व होम करावा; तो पुष्टी व बळ देतो. तसेच “ॐ हंसः ह्रूं हूं स ह्रः सौंः” ही अष्टाक्षरी मृतसञ्जीवनी विद्या असून रणात जय देते.
Lord Agni (narrating mantra-prayoga to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s dialogic frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Japa and homa of Mahāmṛtyuñjaya for puṣṭi (strength/nourishment) and use of Mṛtasañjīvanī eight-syllable vidyā for victory in battle.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Mantra","entry_title":"Mahāmṛtyuñjaya (kṣuṃsaḥ vaṣaṭ) and Aṣṭārṇā Mṛtasañjīvanī Vidyā","lookup_keywords":["Mahāmṛtyuñjaya","homa","puṣṭikṛt","Mṛtasañjīvanī","aṣṭārṇa"],"quick_summary":"Recite and offer Mahāmṛtyuñjaya in fire for strengthening; employ the eight-syllabled Mṛtasañjīvanī vidyā as a victory-bestowing battle-mantra."}
Concept: Mantra gains force through repetition (japa) and oblation (homa), yielding both worldly (jaya, puṣṭi) and protective outcomes.
Application: Use as a protective daily/occasional rite: japa for steadiness, homa for intensified sankalpa and communal protection.
Khanda Section: Mantra-vidya (Tantric and protective rites within Agni Purana’s ritual-encyclopedic sections)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A fire-altar scene: a sādhaka performs homa while chanting Mahāmṛtyuñjaya; beside him a warrior receives blessing with the Mṛtasañjīvanī vidyā for victory.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: glowing homa fire, Rudra/Śiva presence as subtle aura; priest in white with ladle; warrior with shield at the edge; mantra syllables as decorative bands around the scene.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: central homa-kuṇḍa with gold highlights; Śiva as Mahāmṛtyuñjaya with ornate halo; priest offering ghee; warrior kneeling for jaya-āśīrvāda; rich jewel tones.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clear depiction of homa procedure—altar, ladle, offerings; side panel with the two mantras written; calm instructional composition with refined shading.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: courtly pavilion with a small sacred fire; learned priest chanting; a commander receiving a protective talisman/mantra instruction; delicate flames and calligraphy cartouches."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"solemn","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: जप्याद्धोमाच्च = जप्यात् + होमात् + च. मृतसञ्जीवनी विद्यां = मृतसञ्जीवनी + विद्याम्. जयकृद्रणे = जयकृत् + रणे.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 322 (mantra-vidyā and īśāna-mantra cluster)
FAQs
It prescribes mantra-prayoga: performing japa (repetition) and homa (fire-offering) of Mahāmṛtyuñjaya for puṣṭi (strength and nourishment), and using the eight-syllabled Mṛtasañjīvanī Vidyā as a victory-conferring protective mantra.
It exemplifies the Agni Purana’s practical manual-like coverage by giving deployable ritual technology—specific bīja-mantras, their mode of application (japa and homa), and targeted results (strengthening, life-protection, and battlefield victory).
The verse frames mantra and homa as purificatory, life-preserving disciplines: Mahāmṛtyuñjaya is oriented toward overcoming death-fear and sustaining vitality, while Mṛtasañjīvanī is presented as a dharmic protective aid that removes adversity and supports righteous success.