Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 10
Chapter 290 — गजशान्तिः
Gaja-śānti: Elephant-Pacification Rite
ततो वृत्तया रेखया तु देवान् वै वाह्यतो यजेत् सूत्रकारानृषीन् वाणीं पूर्वादौ सरितो गिरीन्
tato vṛttayā rekhayā tu devān vai vāhyato yajet sūtrakārānṛṣīn vāṇīṃ pūrvādau sarito girīn
ततो वृत्तया रेखया देवान् बाह्यतो यजेत्; सूत्रकारान् ऋषीन् वाणीं च; पूर्वादौ सरितो गिरीन् अपि पूजयेत्।
Lord Agni (teaching ritual procedure to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Maṇḍala ke bāhya-āvaraṇa meṃ vṛtta-rekhā (circular boundary) banākar bāhya-devatā, sūtrakāra, ṛṣi, Vāṇī, tathā pūrva-ādi dik se nadī-parvata kī pūjā/nyāsa karna.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Bāhya-āvaraṇa-pūjā: Vṛtta-rekhā, Sūtrakāra-ṛṣi, Vāṇī, Nadī-parvata","lookup_keywords":["bahya-avarana","vritta-rekha","sutrakaras","Vani","rivers-mountains"],"quick_summary":"Maṇḍala ke bāhar ek vṛtta-rekhā se āvaraṇa banākar devatāoṃ ke sātha paramparā (sūtrakāra, ṛṣi) aur prakṛti-tattva (nadī, giri) kī pūjā karne kā krama diyā hai."}
Concept: Jñāna-paramparā (ṛṣi, sūtrakāra, vāk) aur prakṛti (nadī-giri) donoṃ ko pūjā meṃ samāveś—kṛtajñatā aur loka-saṅgraha.
Application: Ritual meṃ guru-paraṃparā-smaraṇa, vāk-śuddhi, aur deśa-tattva (jal/śaila) ko saṃrakṣaṇ-bhāva se mānna.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Mandala/Yantra Lekhana and Devata-nyasa in ritual diagrams)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: River/Mountain
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual diagram with a circular boundary line; outside the main mandala are worship stations for external deities, sutra-authors, rishis, Vāṇī (Sarasvatī), and a clockwise sequence of personified rivers and mountains starting from the east.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, large mandala with bold circular outer ring, Sarasvatī/Vāṇī seated with vīṇā at one station, rows of ṛṣis with matted hair, personified rivers as flowing goddesses and mountains as crowned guardians around the perimeter","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-ringed circular boundary, Sarasvatī with gold halo and vīṇā, rishis in small gilded niches, river goddesses with lotuses, mountain deities with jeweled crowns, ornate arch borders","mysore_prompt":"Mysore, precise instructional depiction of drawing the vṛtta-rekhā and placing icons around it, labeled east-first sequence, soft colors and fine lines","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly ritual scene with a priest drawing a perfect circle using a cord, scholars (sūtrakāra/ṛṣi) seated nearby, personified rivers and mountains painted as allegorical figures around the diagram, intricate margins"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bihag","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सूत्रकारानृषीन् = सूत्रकारान् + ऋषीन्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 290 (āvaraṇa-pūjā, rekhā-vinyāsa)
FAQs
It teaches bāhya-pūjā (outer worship) within a mandala/diagram: draw a circular boundary line and perform worship on the outside, including honoring ritual authorities (sūtrakāras), ṛṣis, Vāṇī (Sarasvatī), and then rivers and mountains in an east-first directional order.
Alongside theology, it preserves technical liturgical method—diagram construction (rekhā, vṛtta), structured sequencing, and the inclusion of intellectual lineages (sūtrakāras, ṛṣis) within worship—showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of practical ritual technology as well as doctrine.
By worshipping deities with ordered boundaries and honoring seers, sacred speech, and the sanctified landscape (rivers/mountains), the rite is made complete and purified, aligning the performer with cosmic order (dik-krama) and accruing ritual merit through correct procedure.