Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 5
Mantra-paribhāṣā
Technical Definitions and Operational Rules of Mantras
क्षुद्रक्रियामयध्वंसे स्त्रियो ऽन्यत्र नपुंसकाः मन्त्रावाग्नेयसौम्याख्यौ ताराद्यन्तार्द्वयोर्जपेत्
kṣudrakriyāmayadhvaṃse striyo 'nyatra napuṃsakāḥ mantrāvāgneyasaumyākhyau tārādyantārdvayorjapet
Para a destruição das desventuras produzidas por práticas menores e nocivas (feitiçarias pequenas), as mulheres—que, de outro modo, recorrem ao neutro—devem realizar japa dos dois mantras chamados Agneya e Saumya, colocando-os entre a sílaba inicial e a sílaba final de Tārā.
Lord Agni (in dialogue tradition of Agni Purana, instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Protective counter-rite: japa-prayoga to neutralize harm from minor sorcery (kṣudra-kriyā) using Agneya and Saumya mantras embedded within Tārā’s initial and final syllables.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Kṣudra-kriyā-pratiṣedha: Tārā-ādi-anta-madhye Agneya–Saumya-japa","lookup_keywords":["kṣudra-kriyā","japa-vidhi","Tārā","Agneya mantra","Saumya mantra"],"quick_summary":"For undoing misfortunes caused by petty rites, a specific japa is prescribed: recite Agneya and Saumya mantras placed between Tārā’s opening and closing syllables, with a note on women’s applicability."}
Concept: Mantra-prayoga can be structured (nyāsa-like embedding) to counteract hostile ritual influences.
Application: Use a standardized protective japa protocol rather than improvisation when addressing suspected kṣudra-kriyā effects.
Khanda Section: Mantra-vidhi (Tantric/Ritual Japa and Prayoga)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A protective japa scene: practitioner seated before a small fire-lamp, holding a mālā, with a manuscript showing Tārā syllables enclosing two inner mantras labeled Agneya and Saumya.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, serene sādhaka with mālā, small flame and moon symbols for Agneya/Saumya, scroll showing mantra nested within Tārā, flat iconic forms and warm tones.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, sādhaka with gold halo, ornate mantra diagram with gold embossing, flame and crescent motifs, rich jewel colors, devotional-protective atmosphere.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear didactic mantra-nesting diagram (Tārā-ādi/anta brackets), practitioner counting beads, soft pastel palette and fine lines.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate indoor study-ritual, detailed rosary beads, manuscript with bracketed syllables, subtle flame and moon emblems, fine border illumination."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: striyo 'nyatra → striyaḥ + anyatra; mantrāvāgneyasaumyākhyau → mantrau + āgneya + saumyākhyau; tārādyantārdvayorjapet → tārādi + anta + dvayoḥ + japet (sandhi: oḥ+j→orj).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 292.6 (Agneya vs Saumya definition); Agni Purana 292.7 (application constraints; endings altering temperament)
FAQs
It teaches an apotropaic japa-prayoga: reciting the Agneya and Saumya mantras, framed within the Tārā syllable (a seed-mantra), as a method to neutralize harm arising from kṣudra-kriyā (petty/hostile rites).
Beyond myth and devotion, it records practical mantra-technology—who may perform it, what mantras are used, and how they are structured—showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of ritual science alongside other disciplines.
The practice is framed as a purificatory and protective act: it aims to dissolve negative ritual residues and restore auspiciousness through disciplined japa and the balancing powers of Agni (fiery) and Soma (cooling/benign).