Chapter 31 — मार्जनविधानं
The Procedure of Mārjana / Purificatory Sprinkling
शकुनीपूतनाद्यांश् च तथा वैनायकान् ग्रहान् मुखमण्डीं तथा क्रूरां रेवतीं वृद्धरेवतीम्
śakunīpūtanādyāṃś ca tathā vaināyakān grahān mukhamaṇḍīṃ tathā krūrāṃ revatīṃ vṛddharevatīm
ଶକୁନୀ, ପୂତନା ଆଦି ଏବଂ ସେହିପରି ବୈନାୟକ-ପ୍ରକାର ଗ୍ରହମାନଙ୍କୁ; ମୁଖମଣ୍ଡୀ, କ୍ରୂରା, ରେବତୀ ଓ ବୃଦ୍ଧ-ରେବତୀକୁ ମଧ୍ୟ (ଶାନ୍ତ/ନିବାରଣ କରୁନ୍ତୁ)।
Lord Agni (teaching sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional voice)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Graha-śānti and rakṣā rites to protect especially children and households from graha/ bhūta-afflictions by naming and ritually dismissing specific entities.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Graha-nāma-saṅgraha (Śakunī–Pūtanā–Vināyaka–Mukhamaṇḍī–Revatī)","lookup_keywords":["Śakunī graha","Pūtanā","Vināyaka graha","Mukhamaṇḍī","Revatī Vṛddha-Revatī"],"quick_summary":"The verse functions as a catalog of specific afflictive grahas/spirits to be targeted in protective rites; naming them is part of identification and pacification/expulsion procedure."}
Concept: Apotropaic efficacy of nāma-grahaṇa (naming) and śānti-kriyā for unseen afflictions.
Application: Use structured identification (which graha) before remedy (which mantra/offerings), especially in bāla-rakṣā contexts.
Khanda Section: Raksha-Mantra & Graha-Shanti (Protective rites against afflictive spirits)
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A protective rite scene where a priest enumerates and wards off named grahas—Śakunī, Pūtanā, Vināyaka-type grahas, Mukhamaṇḍī, Krūrā, Revatī and Vṛddha-Revatī—around a child and household altar.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, ritual priest with lamp and kalasha, protective mandala around a child, shadowy graha-figures labeled Śakunī Pūtanā Vināyaka Mukhamaṇḍī Revatī, earthy reds and ochres, stylized flames, sacred domestic courtyard.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central protective altar with gold-leaf arch, small child seated near mother, priest performing rakṣā, surrounding miniature graha-figures subdued, rich jewel tones, embossed ornaments, devotional-apotropaic mood.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean linework showing stepwise graha-śānti: naming list on palm-leaf, priest gestures of dismissal, protective thread and turmeric marks, subdued graha silhouettes at margins, instructional composition.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, indoor court-like household scene, physician-priest consulting, child on cot, attendants, marginal vignettes of named spirits fading, fine detailing, muted palette, narrative realism."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"apotropaic","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: śakunīpūtanādyāṃś = śakunī-pūtanā-ādyān (आद्य + accusative plural -ān); other items largely in apposition as accusatives listing grahas.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 31 (Rakṣā-mantra, graha-śānti sections); Agni Purana Nṛsiṃha-stotra/mantra passages in the same khanda
It enumerates specific grahas (afflictive spirits) to be pacified/warded off within a rakṣā (protective) or graha-śānti framework, especially those traditionally linked with harm, fear, or child-affliction.
By cataloging named grahas and classes (e.g., Vināyaka-grahas), the text functions like a ritual-technical manual—preserving lists used in applied religion (protection, exorcistic pacification, healing contexts) alongside other sciences.
Pacifying grahas is presented as removing obstructive, fear-producing influences and restoring ritual purity and well-being, supporting dharma through protection of life—especially vulnerable children and households.