Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 88
Ṛग्विधानम् (Ṛgvidhāna) — Applications of Ṛgvedic Mantras through Japa and Homa
आयुष्यञ्चैव वर्चस्यं सूक्तं दाक्षायणं महत् उत देवा इति जपेदामयघ्नं धृतव्रतः
āyuṣyañcaiva varcasyaṃ sūktaṃ dākṣāyaṇaṃ mahat uta devā iti japedāmayaghnaṃ dhṛtavrataḥ
“Untuk umur panjang dan sinar kemuliaan hayat, hendaklah dibaca Sūkta Dākṣāyaṇa yang agung; dan pengamal nazar yang berdisiplin hendaklah juga mengulang mantra yang bermula ‘uta devā…’, yang memusnahkan penyakit.”
Lord Agni (teaching the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s instructional dialogue)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Health-and-longevity oriented mantra-chikitsa: recitation of Dākṣāyaṇa Sūkta for lifespan and vitality; ‘uta devā…’ mantra for disease-destruction, practiced with vow-discipline.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Āyuṣya-varchasya japa: Dākṣāyaṇa Sūkta and ‘Uta devā…’ Āmayaghna mantra","lookup_keywords":["āyuṣya","varchasya","dākṣāyaṇa-sūkta","uta devā","āmayaghna"],"quick_summary":"For longevity and radiance, recite the Dākṣāyaṇa Sūkta; for destroying disease, a vowed practitioner should repeat the ‘uta devā…’ mantra regularly."}
Concept: Āyuṣ (life-span) and varcas (vital radiance) are cultivated through disciplined recitation; ethical/ritual restraint (vrata) is presented as a condition for therapeutic efficacy.
Application: Adopt a consistent japa regimen with personal discipline (dietary/behavioral restraint as vrata) to support resilience and recovery alongside practical care.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Mantra-chikitsa / Raksha-japa for health and longevity)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A disciplined practitioner seated on a kusa mat recites the Dākṣāyaṇa Sūkta with a japa-mālā; a luminous aura signifies varcas, while a fading dark mist symbolizes disease being destroyed by the ‘uta devā…’ mantra.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, seated sādhaka with mālā and palm-leaf text, golden aura around body for varcas, dark disease-mist dissolving, temple-lamp and lotus motifs, traditional flat stylization","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central devotee with radiant gold halo and gold-leaf aura, manuscript labeled Dākṣāyaṇa, ornate borders, symbolic removal of illness as dark cloud pushed away by sacred syllables","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean instructional health-sadhana scene: āsana, mālā, water pot, manuscript; subtle aura indicating vitality; gentle depiction of disease-mist dispersal, fine linework","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate indoor recitation scene with detailed textiles, soft glow around the practitioner, physician-like attendant in background (symbolic), illness shown as faint shadow receding, delicate border"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: āyuṣyañcaiva = āyuṣyam + ca + eva; japedāmayaghnaṃ = japet + āmaya-ghnam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 258 (āyuṣya, rakṣā, and āmayaghna mantra cluster)
FAQs
It prescribes mantra-cikitsā via japa: recitation of the Dākṣāyaṇa Sūkta for āyuṣya (longevity) and varcas (vital lustre), plus repetition of the “uta devā …” mantra as an āmayaghna (disease-destroying) practice, ideally by a vow-observing practitioner (dhṛtavrata).
Alongside theology and ritual, it preserves a practical health regimen—mantra-based prophylaxis and therapy—showing the text’s compendium-like scope that includes Ayurveda-oriented outcomes (health, vitality, disease-removal) integrated with Vedic hymn-recitation.
By linking health benefits to disciplined japa (dhṛtavrata), the verse frames healing as both a spiritual discipline and a purificatory act, implying merit and inner steadiness that support bodily well-being and longevity.