Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 33
Mantra-paribhāṣā
Technical Definitions and Operational Rules of Mantras
सर्पाः पितरो ऽथ भगो ऽर्यमा शोतेतरद्युतिः त्वष्टा मरुत इन्द्राग्नी मित्रेन्द्रौ निरृतिर्जलम्
sarpāḥ pitaro 'tha bhago 'ryamā śotetaradyutiḥ tvaṣṭā maruta indrāgnī mitrendrau nirṛtirjalam
ନାଗ (ସର୍ପ)ମାନେ, ପିତୃମାନେ; ପରେ ଭଗ ଓ ଅର୍ୟମା; ଶୋତେ ଓ ତରଦ୍ୟୁତି; ତ୍ୱଷ୍ଟା; ମରୁତମାନେ; ଇନ୍ଦ୍ର ଓ ଅଗ୍ନି; ମିତ୍ର ଓ ଇନ୍ଦ୍ର; ନିରୃତି ଓ ଜଳ—ଏହି ଦେବତାମାନେ।
Lord Agni (narrating the ritual/devata list to the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi / Devata-nama-smarana (Deity lists for worship and nyasa)","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Ritual invocation (āvāhana) and protective nyāsa by enumerating devatā-s as guardians/powers to be installed in worship.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Devata-nāma-smaraṇa: Nāga–Pitṛ–Āditya–Marut–Indrāgni–Nirṛti–Āpaḥ","lookup_keywords":["sarpāḥ nāgāḥ","pitaraḥ","bhaga aryamā","indrāgnī marutaḥ","nirṛti āpaḥ"],"quick_summary":"A compact nighaṇṭu-style list of Vedic and liminal deities used for smaraṇa/nyāsa in pūjā. The sequence functions as a ritual roster for invoking protection, prosperity, and directional/elemental balance."}
Concept: Devata-smaraṇa as a means of establishing ritual completeness (sarva-devatā-sānnidhya) and protection.
Application: Use as a checklist during pūjā/nyāsa to avoid omission of key cosmic/ancestral/elemental powers.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Devata-nama-smarana (Deity lists for worship and nyasa)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual altar with a priest reciting a roster of deities; subtle symbolic presences: serpents coiled near water-pot, ancestral figures behind, Maruts as wind-gods, Indra-Agni as paired fire-lightning, Nirṛti as shadowy guardian, and flowing waters as Āpaḥ.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat vibrant colors, priest at yajña-vedi chanting devatā-nāma, stylized Nāgas near kalaśa, Pitṛs in subdued tones, Indra-Agni paired with flame and vajra motifs, Maruts as wind-swirls, sacred water waves, traditional ornamentation, symmetrical composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central yajña altar with gold-leaf highlights, small framed vignettes around showing Nāgas, Pitṛs, Bhaga-Aryaman, Tvaṣṭṛ, Maruts, Indrāgnī, Mitra-Indra, Nirṛti, and Āpaḥ; rich textiles, embossed halos, devotional icon framing","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional ritual scene: priest pointing to a written devatā list, clean linework, soft shading, labeled deity emblems (snake, ancestor lamp, sun-disc, wind, fire, water), calm temple interior","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly ritual pavilion with a Brahmin reciting; marginal mini-scenes of each deity symbol; fine detailing, naturalistic water and flame, delicate palette, calligraphic caption bands"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पितरो 'थ = पितरः + अथ; भगो 'र्यमा = भगः + अर्यमा; निरृतिर्जलम् = निरृतिः + जलम्; शोतेतरद्युतिः treated as compound śota-itara-dyutiḥ; indrāgnī = indra-agni (dvandva, dual); mitrendrau = mitra-indrau (dvandva, dual).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 292 (devatā-nāma, nyāsa context)
FAQs
It provides a structured devatā-nāma (deity-name) sequence used for smaraṇa (remembrance) and invocation in worship contexts—helpful for mantra-japa, nyāsa-style listings, or ritual recitation where deities are enumerated in a prescribed order.
By cataloguing multiple Vedic and cosmic entities (Ādityas, Maruts, paired deities, directional/inauspicious powers like Nirṛti, and elemental waters), it functions as a reference-style compendium—typical of the Agni Purana’s broad, index-like coverage of ritual, theology, and cosmological classifications.
Remembering and invoking these deities is traditionally held to support ritual completeness and purification—honouring Pitṛs, harmonizing auspicious powers (Bhaga, Aryaman), and ritually neutralizing adversity-associated forces (Nirṛti) through ordered remembrance and the purifying principle of Waters (Āpas).