Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 26
Mantra-paribhāṣā
Technical Definitions and Operational Rules of Mantras
द्रव्यानुक्तौ घृतं होमे जपो ऽशक्तस्य सर्वतः मूलमन्त्राद्दशांशः स्यादङ्गादीनां जपादिकम्
dravyānuktau ghṛtaṃ home japo 'śaktasya sarvataḥ mūlamantrāddaśāṃśaḥ syādaṅgādīnāṃ japādikam
Quando não se especifica a substância da oferenda, no homa deve-se usar ghṛta (ghee) como oblação. Para quem é incapaz de realizar o rito completo, recomenda-se o japa em todos os aspectos. A repetição e os atos correlatos para os aṅga (mantras auxiliares, “membros”) devem ser um décimo da contagem prescrita para o mūla-mantra (mantra raiz).
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, standard Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Provides defaults and concessions: ghee as standard homa offering when unspecified; japa as substitute for those unable; sets aṅga-mantra counts at one-tenth of the mūla-mantra.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Default Homa Dravya (Ghṛta), Japa as Substitute, and Aṅga-japa Daśāṃśa Rule","lookup_keywords":["dravya-anukta ghṛta","aśakta japa","mūla-mantra daśāṃśa","aṅga-mantra","homa offering"],"quick_summary":"Use ghee when no offering substance is specified; if unable to perform full rites, prioritize japa; auxiliary (aṅga) mantra repetitions and related acts are one-tenth of the root mantra count."}
Concept: Ritual practice is adaptable: when resources or capacity are limited, japa preserves the core; structured proportionality governs subsidiary mantra limbs.
Application: If uncertain about offerings, use ghee; if constrained by time/means, do japa as the main practice; compute aṅga-mantra repetitions as mūla count/10.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Mantra-japa and Homa Prayoga / Ritual Procedure)
Primary Rasa: śānta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A practitioner before a small homa fire with a ghee ladle; beside him a manuscript listing mūla-mantra and aṅga-mantras with ‘1/10’ marks; an alternate vignette shows a simpler japa-only practice for the aśakta sādhaka.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, homa fire with ghṛta āhuti, sādhaka holding sruk, side panel of japa-only seated practitioner, stylized script bands indicating mūla and aṅga mantras","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, ritual implements rendered richly: ghee pot, ladle, fire altar, gold accents on flames; manuscript showing ‘daśāṃśa’ rule; devotional shrine in background","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic split-scene: (A) full homa with ghṛta, (B) simplified japa for aśakta; clear labels for mūla-mantra and aṅga-mantra counts","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate indoor ritual: small brazier, ghee vessel, scribe noting 1/10 calculations, practitioner with rosary; fine detail of utensils"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: जपोऽशक्तस्य → जपः + अशक्तस्य; मूलमन्त्राद्दशांशः → मूलमन्त्रात् + दशांशः; स्यादङ्गादीनां → स्यात् + अङ्गादीनाम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 292.25 (japa-homa ratio); Agni Purana 292.27 (deity satisfaction through dhyāna-homa-arcana)
FAQs
It gives operational rules for ritual performance: use ghee in homa if no offering is specified, allow japa as a practical substitute for those unable to do the full rite, and set the aṅga-mantra repetitions at one-tenth of the root-mantra count.
It preserves precise procedural standards (prayoga) for mantra, homa, and ancillary aṅga practices—showing the Agni Purana’s role as a compact manual that codifies ritual options, substitutions, and numerical rules.
It upholds continuity of sādhana: even when full ritual action is not possible, disciplined japa and correctly proportioned ancillary recitations preserve the rite’s efficacy and merit while maintaining procedural purity.