Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 12
Chapter 308 — Worship of Tvaritā (त्वरितापूजा)
यवैर् धान्यैस्तिलैः सर्वसिद्धिरीतिविनाशनम् अक्षैर् उन्मत्तता शत्रोः शाल्मलीभिश् च मारणम्
yavair dhānyaistilaiḥ sarvasiddhirītivināśanam akṣair unmattatā śatroḥ śālmalībhiś ca māraṇam
ଯବ, ଧାନ୍ୟ ଓ ତିଳ ଦ୍ୱାରା ସର୍ବସିଦ୍ଧି ଏବଂ ଉପଦ୍ରବ/ମହାମାରୀର ବିନାଶ ହୁଏ। ଅକ୍ଷବୀଜ ଦ୍ୱାରା ଶତ୍ରୁର ଉନ୍ମତ୍ତତା ହୁଏ; ଶାଲ୍ମଲୀ-ଦ୍ରବ୍ୟ ଦ୍ୱାରା ମାରଣ ସିଦ୍ଧ ହୁଏ।
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in compendious ritual-technical lore)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Result-oriented ritual use of specific seeds/botanicals for siddhi, calamity-destruction, enemy-affliction, and lethal abhicāra operations (to be treated as textual documentation, not a recommendation).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Bīja-dravya prayoga in abhicāra: yava, tila, akṣa, śālmalī","lookup_keywords":["abhicāra","yava","tila","akṣa seed","śālmalī"],"quick_summary":"The verse lists ritual correspondences: barley/grains/sesame for general siddhi and warding calamity; akṣa-seed for inducing enemy derangement; śālmalī substances for lethal effect—reflecting the text’s catalog of tantric applications."}
Concept: Cataloging of ritual correspondences (dravya–phala) including coercive rites, illustrating the Purāṇa’s encyclopedic inclusion of socially ambivalent technologies.
Application: As a scholarly/ritual-history takeaway: recognize these as textual classifications; in practice, adhere to dharmic constraints and non-harm principles where applicable.
Khanda Section: Mantra-tantra / Abhicara-kalpa (Ritual applications of grains, seeds, and botanical substances)
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritualist’s trays of barley, sesame, akṣa seeds, and śālmalī fibers/parts arranged before a fire or yantra, with distinct labels indicating intended effects (siddhi, calamity-destruction, enemy-derangement, lethal rite).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, dramatic ritual chamber with controlled fire, bowls of yava and tila, akṣa seeds, śālmalī fibers, strong reds and ochres, stern ritualist posture, symbolic yantra patterns on floor.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, ornate but austere abhicāra setup, gold accents on vessels, clearly separated offerings (barley, sesame, seeds, śālmalī), intense central flame, minimal figures to emphasize ritual objects.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional still-life of ritual dravyas with fine labeling, neat arrangement around a small homa-kunda/yantra, emphasis on identification and sequence rather than drama.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, indoor scene with a practitioner and assistant, detailed bowls of grains and seeds, cottony śālmalī material, subdued lighting, precise botanical rendering."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: sarvasiddhirītivināśanam → sarvasiddhiḥ + ītivināśanam; śālmalībhiś ca → śālmalībhiḥ + ca.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 308 (abhicāra-kalpa and dravya-phala continuation)
FAQs
It assigns specific ritual effects to specific substances: barley/grains/sesame for siddhi and removal of īti (calamity/affliction), akṣa-seeds for inducing enemy derangement, and śālmalī-based substances for the māraṇa (lethal) operation.
It functions like a compact technical index—linking everyday agricultural and botanical materials to specialized ritual outcomes (protective and hostile), showing the text’s catalog-style transmission of applied knowledge alongside theology.
The verse distinguishes śānti-oriented aims (īti-vināśa, protection) from abhicāra aims (unmattatā, māraṇa); traditionally, protective rites are framed as preservative dharma, while hostile applications are treated as grave acts requiring strict authorization, restraint, and accountability for karmic consequences.