Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 5
Aghīrāstra-ādi-Śānti-kalpaḥ
Rite for Pacification of Aghora-Astra and Other Weapons
लक्षं ग्रहादिनाशः स्यादुत्पाते तिलहोमनम् दिव्ये लक्षं तदर्धेन व्योमजोत्पातनाशनं
lakṣaṃ grahādināśaḥ syādutpāte tilahomanam divye lakṣaṃ tadardhena vyomajotpātanāśanaṃ
Sebanyak satu lakṣa (seratus ribu) persembahan dikatakan menghapuskan gangguan yang berpunca daripada graha dan seumpamanya; apabila berlaku utpāta (petanda buruk), hendaklah dilakukan tilahoma, iaitu homa dengan biji wijen. Bagi utpāta yang bersifat ilahi (divya), lakukan satu lakṣa; dan dengan separuh daripadanya, utpāta yang timbul di langit dapat dimusnahkan.
Lord Agni (traditionally narrating Agni Purana teachings to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Jyotisha","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Quantified homa prescriptions (lakṣa/half-lakṣa) with tila offerings to pacify different classes of utpāta—graha-related, general ominous portents, and celestial/sky-borne anomalies.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Tila-homa counts for Graha/Divya/Vyomaja Utpāta-śānti","lookup_keywords":["utpāta-śānti","tilahoma","lakṣa-homa","divya-utpāta","vyomaja-utpāta"],"quick_summary":"Specifies offering counts: a lakṣa-scale homa for graha-related harm; sesame-offering for utpāta; and differentiated counts for divine/celestial and sky-borne portents."}
Concept: Portents (utpāta) are treated as actionable signals; prescribed ritual measures and quantified offerings are the corrective interface between human order and cosmic disturbance.
Application: When unusual celestial/atmospheric signs are reported, commission tila-homa with the stated counts, scaling effort to the portent’s class (divya/vyomaja).
Khanda Section: Jyotiṣa–Śānti (Utpāta-śānti: pacification of celestial/atmospheric portents)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A fire altar with heaps of sesame seeds ready for offering; observers point to an unusual celestial sign (comet/halo) while the priest performs repeated oblations, tallying counts on a board or with pebbles.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: homa-kuṇḍa with sesame offerings, priest casting tila into flames, villagers watching, stylized sky with ominous sign, strong reds and ochres, ritual implements clearly shown.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: central blazing homa with gold accents, bowls of black sesame, priest in ornate attire, celestial portent depicted above with gilded highlights, auspicious border motifs.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: didactic layout showing sesame bowl, ladle, counting method for lakṣa/ardha-lakṣa, sky panel with ‘divya’ and ‘vyomaja’ signs, fine lines and soft colors.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: courtyard ritual with detailed utensils, scribe recording counts, sky with comet-like streak, patrons in court dress, intricate architecture and textiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: syādutpāte → syāt utpāte; grahādināśaḥ → graha-ādi-nāśaḥ; vyomajotpātanāśanaṃ → vyoma-ja-utpāta-nāśanam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 320 (utpāta classifications and śānti measures)
FAQs
It prescribes śānti-karma by homa: using tilahoma and a specific count (lakṣa, i.e., 100,000 oblations) to pacify graha-related afflictions and various utpātas, with reduced count (half) for sky-born portents.
It shows the text’s practical ritual-technology: integrating jyotiṣa concepts (graha/utpāta classification) with actionable śānti procedures (homa materials and quantified oblation-counts), alongside its many other domains.
The verse frames homa as a purificatory and protective act: disciplined offerings into fire are presented as a means to neutralize inauspicious karmic/astral influences and restore auspicious order (śānti).