Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 25
Chapter 369 — शरीरावयवाः
The Limbs/Organs and Constituents of the Body
षट्कूर्चानि स्मृतानीह हस्तयोः पादयोः पृथक् ग्रीवायाञ्च तथा मेढ्रे कथितानि मनीषिभिः
ṣaṭkūrcāni smṛtānīha hastayoḥ pādayoḥ pṛthak grīvāyāñca tathā meḍhre kathitāni manīṣibhiḥ
ଏଠାରେ ଛଅଟି ‘କୂର୍ଚ’ ସ୍ମୃତ—ହାତରେ ଓ ପାଦରେ ପୃଥକ୍ ପୃଥକ୍; ଏବଂ ଗ୍ରୀବାରେ ତଥା ମେଢ୍ର (ଲିଙ୍ଗ)ରେ ମଧ୍ୟ—ଏହିପରି ମନୀଷୀମାନେ କହିଛନ୍ତି।
Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purāṇa narrator) addressing Vasiṣṭha
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Marma/vital-point awareness for diagnosis, surgery/trauma caution, massage, and yogic restraint; identifies kūrca regions in hands/feet and sensitive sites in neck and genital region.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Ṣaṭ Kūrca (six kūrca-points) distribution","lookup_keywords":["kūrca","marma","hasta","pāda","grīvā","meḍhra"],"quick_summary":"Counts six kūrca-points: in hands and feet (separately), plus in the neck and penis—serving as a cautionary map of vital/structural points."}
Concept: Certain bodily loci are specially ‘recognized by the learned’ as critical—knowledge transmitted by authority (mānīṣin).
Application: Adopt disciplined care of vulnerable regions in daily life, therapy, and training; cultivate body-awareness as a support for sādhanā.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Marma-śarīra / Anatomical points and vital spots)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A body-map highlighting kūrca points in both hands and feet, with additional marked points at the neck and genital region, presented as a marma chart.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, standing figure with red/black markers at hands, feet, neck, and groin, lotus-like symbols for marma, restrained palette, temple-wall didactic feel.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central figure with gold medallions at kūrca points, ornate border, emphasis on sacred-knowledge transmission, subtle labeling motifs.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean instructional diagram with highlighted kūrca points, gentle shading, symmetrical layout, teacher-vaidya pointing to the chart.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, manuscript folio of marma chart with physician annotations, delicate rendering of neck and limb points, refined borders and calligraphy."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"serious","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ṣaṭkūrcāni = ṣaṭ-kūrcāni (द्विगु); smṛtānīha = smṛtāni + iha; grīvāyāñca = grīvāyām + ca.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 369 (marma/kūrca/jāla enumerations)
FAQs
It imparts Ayurvedic anatomical classification by enumerating six kūrca-points and locating them in the hands, feet, neck, and meḍhra—useful for marma-identification in diagnosis, treatment, and injury assessment.
By preserving a technical, medical-style taxonomy of bodily points (kūrca/marma), it shows the Agni Purāṇa functioning as a compendium that includes Ayurveda and anatomical knowledge alongside ritual, dharma, and other sciences.
While primarily medical, such precise body-knowledge supports disciplined living and non-harm (ahiṃsā) by helping avoid vital injuries and enabling proper care—aligning bodily well-being with dharmic conduct.