Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 88
Ṛग्विधानम् (Ṛgvidhāna) — Applications of Ṛgvedic Mantras through Japa and Homa
आयुष्यञ्चैव वर्चस्यं सूक्तं दाक्षायणं महत् उत देवा इति जपेदामयघ्नं धृतव्रतः
āyuṣyañcaiva varcasyaṃ sūktaṃ dākṣāyaṇaṃ mahat uta devā iti japedāmayaghnaṃ dhṛtavrataḥ
«Para longevidade e esplendor vital, deve-se recitar o grande Dākṣāyaṇa Sūkta; e o observante disciplinado de votos deve também repetir o mantra que começa com “uta devā…”, que destrói a doença.»
Lord Agni (teaching the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s instructional dialogue)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Health-and-longevity oriented mantra-chikitsa: recitation of Dākṣāyaṇa Sūkta for lifespan and vitality; ‘uta devā…’ mantra for disease-destruction, practiced with vow-discipline.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Āyuṣya-varchasya japa: Dākṣāyaṇa Sūkta and ‘Uta devā…’ Āmayaghna mantra","lookup_keywords":["āyuṣya","varchasya","dākṣāyaṇa-sūkta","uta devā","āmayaghna"],"quick_summary":"For longevity and radiance, recite the Dākṣāyaṇa Sūkta; for destroying disease, a vowed practitioner should repeat the ‘uta devā…’ mantra regularly."}
Concept: Āyuṣ (life-span) and varcas (vital radiance) are cultivated through disciplined recitation; ethical/ritual restraint (vrata) is presented as a condition for therapeutic efficacy.
Application: Adopt a consistent japa regimen with personal discipline (dietary/behavioral restraint as vrata) to support resilience and recovery alongside practical care.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Mantra-chikitsa / Raksha-japa for health and longevity)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A disciplined practitioner seated on a kusa mat recites the Dākṣāyaṇa Sūkta with a japa-mālā; a luminous aura signifies varcas, while a fading dark mist symbolizes disease being destroyed by the ‘uta devā…’ mantra.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, seated sādhaka with mālā and palm-leaf text, golden aura around body for varcas, dark disease-mist dissolving, temple-lamp and lotus motifs, traditional flat stylization","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central devotee with radiant gold halo and gold-leaf aura, manuscript labeled Dākṣāyaṇa, ornate borders, symbolic removal of illness as dark cloud pushed away by sacred syllables","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean instructional health-sadhana scene: āsana, mālā, water pot, manuscript; subtle aura indicating vitality; gentle depiction of disease-mist dispersal, fine linework","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate indoor recitation scene with detailed textiles, soft glow around the practitioner, physician-like attendant in background (symbolic), illness shown as faint shadow receding, delicate border"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: āyuṣyañcaiva = āyuṣyam + ca + eva; japedāmayaghnaṃ = japet + āmaya-ghnam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 258 (āyuṣya, rakṣā, and āmayaghna mantra cluster)
FAQs
It prescribes mantra-cikitsā via japa: recitation of the Dākṣāyaṇa Sūkta for āyuṣya (longevity) and varcas (vital lustre), plus repetition of the “uta devā …” mantra as an āmayaghna (disease-destroying) practice, ideally by a vow-observing practitioner (dhṛtavrata).
Alongside theology and ritual, it preserves a practical health regimen—mantra-based prophylaxis and therapy—showing the text’s compendium-like scope that includes Ayurveda-oriented outcomes (health, vitality, disease-removal) integrated with Vedic hymn-recitation.
By linking health benefits to disciplined japa (dhṛtavrata), the verse frames healing as both a spiritual discipline and a purificatory act, implying merit and inner steadiness that support bodily well-being and longevity.