Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 23
Tvaritā-pūjā (The Worship of Tvaritā) — Transition Verse and Context
छे छेदनि करालिनि खखेति च कराल्यपि वक्षःश्रवद्रवप्लवनी ख ख दूतीप्लवं ख्यपि
che chedani karālini khakheti ca karālyapi vakṣaḥśravadravaplavanī kha kha dūtīplavaṃ khyapi
छे! छेदनी करालिनि खखेति च कराली च। वक्षःश्रवद्रवप्लवनी! ख ख। दूतीप्लवं च, ख्यपि च।
Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purana narrator) instructing sage Vasiṣṭha (contextual attribution for this section)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Apotropaic (protective) syllabic-mantra recitation for warding off hostile forces, binding/overpowering a dūtī (messenger-spirit), and energizing a protective enclosure around the practitioner or target.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Mantra","entry_title":"Karālinī–Chedanī protective syllabic-mantra (dūtī-plava formula)","lookup_keywords":["chedanī","karālinī","dūtī-plava","vakṣaḥ-śravad-drava","kha kha"],"quick_summary":"A fierce, syllable-heavy protective mantra invoking cutting/terrifying śaktis and a ‘flooding/overpowering’ (plava) of the dūtī; used as a warding and subjugating formula in tantric protection rites."}
Alamkara Type: Anuprāsa (phonetic repetition) and Yamaka-like syllabic echoing (kha kha; che/cheda).
Concept: Varṇa (syllable) as śakti: protective efficacy is carried by sound-forms and invoked devatā-names/epithets.
Application: Correct pronunciation, repetition (japa), and ritual intent (saṅkalpa) are treated as the operative mechanism for protection/subjugation.
Khanda Section: Tantra / Mantra-vidya (Protective syllabic-mantras and duti/karalini formulae)
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A fierce protective rite: the practitioner recites harsh syllables before a terrifying goddess-form; waves of energy ‘flood’ outward, symbolically overpowering a messenger-spirit (dūtī).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, ugra devī (Karālī/Karālinī) with flaming aura, wide eyes, dynamic posture, mantra syllables as stylized script around her, dark red and ochre palette, ritualist in foreground chanting.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central fierce goddess with gold halo and embossed ornaments, stylized flames, mantra syllables ‘kha kha’ and ‘che’ in decorative borders, protective aura encircling the devotee.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean linework, instructional composition: practitioner seated with rosary, yantra-like circle showing ‘dūtī-plava’ as concentric waves, subdued colors with fine detailing.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly yet dramatic scene: a siddha reciting in a chamber, translucent energy-waves flooding toward a small spirit-messenger figure, fine calligraphy-like mantra glyphs, detailed textiles and lamps."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"apotropaic","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"fast","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कराल्यपि → कराली + अपि (य्-आगम/सन्धि). ख्यपि in IAST treated as खि + अपि (mantric syllable + particle).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 309.24 (dūtī-nāma/lakṣaṇa lists); Agni Purana 309.25 (protective ‘pūṭe pūṭe’, phaṭ, sword-application); Agni Purana 309.26 (nyāsa/vinyāsa placement rules)
FAQs
This verse gives a syllabic-mantra (bīja-heavy) formula invoking fierce śakti-names (Karālī/Karālinī) and sharp phonemes (che, kha, khy) used in protective/repelling rites and forceful ritual applications (abhicāra-style prayoga).
Alongside dharma, polity, medicine, and poetics, the Agni Purana preserves practical mantra-vidyā material—lists of bīja-syllables, deity-epithets, and recitation-forms—showing its coverage of applied ritual technologies, not only narrative theology.
When used in a dhārmic protective intent under proper discipline, such fierce-mantra recitation is framed as removing impediments and warding hostile forces; misapplied, it is traditionally warned to create adverse karmic consequences due to its coercive potency.