Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 14
Chapter 305 — Narasiṃha and Related Mantras (नारसिंहादिमन्त्राः)
विष्णादि सर्वं तत्रैव न्यसेत् तत्रैव दक्षिणे नमो विष्णुजनेभ्यः सर्वशान्तिकरेभ्यः प्रतिगृह्णन्तु शान्तये नमः दद्यादनेन मन्त्रेण हुतशेषाम्भसा बलिं
viṣṇādi sarvaṃ tatraiva nyaset tatraiva dakṣiṇe namo viṣṇujanebhyaḥ sarvaśāntikarebhyaḥ pratigṛhṇantu śāntaye namaḥ dadyādanena mantreṇa hutaśeṣāmbhasā baliṃ
विष्ण्वादि सर्वं तत्रैव न्यसेत्, तत्रैव दक्षिणे च। ‘नमो विष्णुजनेभ्यः सर्वशान्तिकरेभ्यः प्रतिगृह्णन्तु शान्तये नमः’ इति मन्त्रेण हुतशेषाम्भसा बलिं दद्यात्।
Lord Agni (in dialogue, instructing sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Śānti-kalpa bali-vidhi: nyāsa beginning with Viṣṇu, directional placement (south), and offering bali with hutaśeṣa water using a specific mantra for pacification.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Mantra","entry_title":"Bali-mantra to Viṣṇu’s attendants for sarva-śānti","lookup_keywords":["namo viṣṇu-jane-bhyaḥ","sarva-śānti-kara","bali-vidhi","nyāsa","hutaśeṣa-ambhas"],"quick_summary":"Perform nyāsa with Viṣṇu and related placements, then offer bali using the post-homa water while reciting the mantra requesting Viṣṇu’s attendants to accept it for peace."}
Concept: Śānti as a ritual technology: aligning deities/attendants through nyāsa, dik-vinyāsa, and bali to neutralize disturbances.
Application: Use sanctified post-homa water for bali; place offerings in prescribed direction (dakṣiṇa) and address the correct divine retinue for intended śānti.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Shanti-kalpa / Bali-vidhi for pacificatory rites)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual space with a homa altar; the priest performs nyāsa gestures, then moves to the southern side to place a bali offering, sprinkling or pouring hutaśeṣa water while invoking Viṣṇu’s attendants.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Viṣṇu’s presence suggested by symbols (śaṅkha-cakra) above, priest at southern side placing bali on a small platform, flowing water rendered as stylized white lines, calm protective aura.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Viṣṇu icon or emblem in background with gold halo, priest offering bali at the right/southern side, ornate vessels with gold work, devotional serenity.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear depiction of nyāsa hand-gestures and directional placement, labeled south side, bali bowl and water vessel prominent, instructional composition.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtyard ritual with compass-like layout, priest offering at southern edge, attendants watching, delicate calligraphy panel containing the mantra."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: tatraiva = tatra eva; viṣṇujanebhyaḥ = viṣṇu-janebhyaḥ; sarvaśāntikarebhyaḥ = sarva-śānti-karebhyaḥ; hutaśeṣāmbhasā = huta-śeṣa-ambhasā.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 305 (Śānti-kalpa / bali passages)
FAQs
It teaches a śānti-karma step: perform nyāsa (ritual placement) for the Viṣṇu-group, recite a specific mantra to Viṣṇu’s attendants, and offer bali using the post-homa remainder water (huta-śeṣa-ambhas).
It preserves a precise, manual-like ritual protocol (nyāsa directionality, mantra address, and the correct ritual medium for bali), showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of practical liturgy alongside its broader teachings.
The act is framed as sarva-śānti (universal pacification): properly directing offerings to Viṣṇu’s attendants and using sanctified remnants from homa is intended to remove disturbances and establish peace and auspiciousness.