Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 35
Mantra-paribhāṣā
Technical Definitions and Operational Rules of Mantras
अग्निदस्रावुमा निघ्नो नागश् चन्द्रो दिवाकरः मातृदुर्गा दिशामीशः कृष्णो वैवस्वतः शिवः
agnidasrāvumā nighno nāgaś candro divākaraḥ mātṛdurgā diśāmīśaḥ kṛṣṇo vaivasvataḥ śivaḥ
ਅਗਨੀ, ਨਾਸਤ੍ਯ (ਅਸ਼ਵਿਨ), ਵਾਯੂ, ਵਿਘਨ-ਨਾਸਕ, ਨਾਗ, ਚੰਦਰਮਾ, ਸੂਰਜ, ਮਾਤਾ ਦੁਰਗਾ, ਦਿਸ਼ਾਵਾਂ ਦਾ ਈਸ਼ਵਰ, ਕ੍ਰਿਸ਼ਨ, ਵੈਵਸ੍ਵਤ (ਯਮ) ਅਤੇ ਸ਼ਿਵ।
Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purana narrator) addressing sage Vasiṣṭha
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Stotra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Protective nāma-saṅkīrtana: reciting a chain of divine names for rakṣā (apotropaic protection) and obstacle-removal.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Rakṣā-nāma-mālā: Agni–Nasatya–Vāyu–Vighna-nighna–Nāga–Candra–Sūrya–Durgā–Dikīśa–Kṛṣṇa–Vaivasvata–Śiva","lookup_keywords":["nāma-stotra","rakṣā","vighna-nighna","vaivasvata yama","dikīśa"],"quick_summary":"A protective litany combining Vedic gods, graha-luminaries, and major Purāṇic deities. Intended for daily recitation or ritual sealing (rakṣā-bandhana/nyāsa) to avert obstacles and invoke comprehensive guardianship."}
Alamkara Type: Anukrama (enumerative litany)
Concept: Nāma-smaraṇa as rakṣā: remembrance of multiple divine powers to cover all domains (fire, wind, luminaries, directions, death, auspiciousness).
Application: Recite before travel, at thresholds, during fear/inauspicious times, or as a closing seal after pūjā.
Khanda Section: Nama-stotra / Devata-nama-sankirtana (Protective Litany of Divine Names)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A protective circle (rakṣā-maṇḍala) around a devotee, with each named deity appearing as a guardian: Agni as flame-wall, Vāyu as swirling wind, Candra and Sūrya above, Durgā and Śiva flanking, Kṛṣṇa serene, Yama as restrained boundary, Nāga coiled at the base, Dikīśa as directional sentinels.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, devotee seated in prayer within a circular rakṣā-maṇḍala; deities arranged radially: Agni flames, Vāyu swirls, Candra-Sūrya overhead, Durgā with weapons, Śiva with trident, Kṛṣṇa with flute, Yama subdued at edge, Nāga at base; bold outlines, temple palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central devotee with gold-leaf protective aureole; surrounding small deity panels with embossed halos; rich reds and greens, ornate borders, devotional symmetry","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional protective diagram: names written near deity emblems; clean composition showing how each deity guards a direction/aspect; soft colors and precise linework","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate scene of a person reciting while luminous deities appear in the sky and margins; fine detailing, delicate palette, calligraphic name labels"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: IAST agnidasrāvumā interpreted as agni-dasrau + umā (list of deities); nāgaś candro = nāgaḥ + candraḥ; diśāmīśaḥ = diśām + īśaḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 292 (nāma-saṅkīrtana and nyāsa context)
FAQs
It functions as nāma-smaraṇa (ritual recollection/recitation of divine names), used as a protective and purificatory practice within stotra and japa frameworks.
By cataloging multiple deities and epithets in a compact litany, it exemplifies the Agni Purana’s compendium style—preserving ritual-ready name-lists alongside other domains like dharma, temple rites, and sacred lore.
Remembering and reciting these names is traditionally held to remove obstacles, invoke auspiciousness, and generate puṇya (merit) through devotion and focused remembrance.