Varaha Purana 128.63: Adhyaya 128, Shloka 63
Rites for the comb, collyrium, and mirror; initiations for the four social orders; and the Gaṇāntikā vow/insignia
मन्त्रः — एतां कङ्कतीमञ्जलिस्थां प्रगृह्य प्रसीद नारायण शिरः प्रसाधि हि ॥
mantraḥ — etāṃ kaṅkatīm añjalisthāṃ pragṛhya prasīda nārāyaṇa śiraḥ prasādhi hi ||
Mantra: “Dengan menerima sikat rambut ini yang diletakkan dalam añjali, berkenanlah, wahai Nārāyaṇa; sesungguhnya, rapikan dan hiasilah kepala.”
Varāha (mantra to Nārāyaṇa)
Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":true,"earth_interaction":"Mantra addressed to Nārāyaṇa within Varāha’s instruction to Bhū: offering the comb and requesting divine grace to ‘adorn the head’ (śiraḥ prasādhi)."}
Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":true,"speaker_role":"instructor","bhu_devi_state":"devotional, receptive to mantra","key_question":"What exact mantra should be spoken when offering the comb, and what is its intended request?"}
Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false}
Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":true,"instruction_summary":"Recite the comb-offering mantra to Nārāyaṇa while presenting it in añjali, requesting his favor and the adorning of the head.","karmic_consequence":"Mantra-yukta offering cultivates prasāda and devotional merit; mantra omission reduces the rite to mere gesture (phala not specified)."}
Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false}
Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":true,"symbolic_interpretation":"The deity’s ‘head’ (śiras) signifies sovereignty and auspicious order; grooming becomes a ritualized affirmation that Nārāyaṇa is the supreme ruler whose ‘crown’ is maintained by devotees’ service.","yajna_varaha_imagery":"Offering-in-joined-palms parallels oblation in a ‘human altar’; the comb functions as an alaṅkāra-upacāra analogous to arranging sacred order in yajña.","vedantic_connection":"Upacāra is a saguna-bhakti mode: the devotee serves the Lord as present and personal, while acknowledging his transcendence through the plea ‘praseeda’ (grant grace)."}
Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"bhakti-theology","core_concept":"Grace (prasāda) is sought through humble, concrete service; the Lord is approached as an intimate recipient of care.","practical_application":"When performing pūjā, verbalize intention: present the item and explicitly request divine favor, aligning action and prayer."}
Subject Matter: ["Mantra Tradition","Ritual Practice","Vaiṣṇava Liturgy"]
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: śānta
Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 128.71 (holding comb in añjali); Varāha Purāṇa 128.73 (next mantra for añjana/vision theme)
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A devotee offers a comb in añjali before Nārāyaṇa’s icon; the mantra is being uttered, requesting the deity to be pleased and to adorn the head.","item_prompts":["Nārāyaṇa icon or Varāha-associated shrine","hands in añjali holding comb","halo/light indicating ‘prasāda’","crown/head adornment motif"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: Nārāyaṇa with serene face and ornate crown; devotee’s hands offering comb; inscription-like mantra band.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: heavy gold crown emphasized; comb offering in foreground; gold leaf radiance around the head.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: balanced composition with refined ornamentation; subtle glow at the crown; gentle devotional mood.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: miniature shrine scene; delicate crown details; devotee’s añjali prominent; soft devotional intimacy."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"supplicatory, devotional","suggested_raga":"Kalyāṇi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"warm, prayerful"}
FAQs
It preserves a short functional mantra embedded in Purāṇic ritual prose/verse, illustrating how liturgical formulas were transmitted within narrative texts.
No geographic marker is present; the mantra addresses Nārāyaṇa directly.
The mantra models a respectful request for divine favor expressed through orderly, non-coercive language (“prasīda”).
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