Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 20
The Six Limbs (Ṣaḍaṅga) of the Aghora-Astra (अघोरास्त्राणि षडङ्गानि)
सर्वेभ्यो नमस्ते रुद्ररूपेभ्यः ॐ वामदेवाय नमो ज्येष्ठाय नमः रुद्राय नमः कालाय नमः कलविकरणाय नमो बलविकरणाय नमो बलप्रमथनाय नमः सर्वभूतदमनाय नमो मनोन्मानाय नमः ॐ सद्योजातं प्रवक्ष्यामि सद्योजाताय वै नमः भवे भवे ऽनादिभवे भजस्व मां भवोद्भव
sarvebhyo namaste rudrarūpebhyaḥ oṃ vāmadevāya namo jyeṣṭhāya namaḥ rudrāya namaḥ kālāya namaḥ kalavikaraṇāya namo balavikaraṇāya namo balapramathanāya namaḥ sarvabhūtadamanāya namo manonmānāya namaḥ oṃ sadyojātaṃ pravakṣyāmi sadyojātāya vai namaḥ bhave bhave 'nādibhave bhajasva māṃ bhavodbhava
सर्वेभ्यो रुद्ररूपेभ्यः नमो नमः। ॐ वामदेवाय नमः, ज्येष्ठाय नमः, रुद्राय नमः, कालाय नमः, कलाविकरणाय नमः, बलविकरणाय नमः, बलप्रमथनाय नमः, सर्वभूतदमनाय नमः, मनोन्मानाय नमः। ॐ सद्योजातं प्रवक्ष्यामि—सद्योजाताय वै नमः। भवे भवेऽनादिभवे भजस्व मां, भवोद्भव।
Lord Agni (narrating Agni Purana teachings to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Stotra","practical_application":"Rudra-nāma-japa within pūjā-vidhi; invoking Pañcabrahma aspects (esp. Vāmadeva, Sadyojāta) for grace, protection, and inner uplift.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Mantra","entry_title":"Rudra-rūpa Namaskāra & Sadyojāta Invocation (Pañcabrahma)","lookup_keywords":["Rudra-nāma-japa","Vāmadeva","Sadyojāta","Bhava Bhavodbhava","Pañcabrahma"],"quick_summary":"A litany of salutations to Rudra’s forms culminating in the Sadyojāta-brahma invocation, used in Śaiva pūjā to seek Bhava’s grace across all states of becoming and to elevate the mind."}
Alamkara Type: Anaphora (repeated ‘namo’), Nāma-mālā (catalogue of epithets)
Concept: Bhava as beginningless source of becoming (bhavodbhava) and the mind-transcending Rudra; devotion as a means to grace across saṃsāra.
Application: Use the epithets as bhāvanā (contemplative visualization) during japa/nyāsa to stabilize mind and cultivate surrender (śaraṇāgati).
Khanda Section: Shiva-Rudra Stotra / Mantra (Rudra-nama-japa; Panchabrahma invocation within Puja-vidhi)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A Śaiva priest performs pūjā before a liṅga, reciting ‘namo’ to Rudra’s many forms; behind the liṅga, a visionary five-faced Śiva (Pañcabrahma) appears, with Kāla aspect subtly present.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural, deep earthy reds and greens, central Śiva-liṅga with glowing aura, five-faced Śiva (Pañcabrahma) emerging in the background, priest in white dhoti doing añjali, sacred ash markings, stylized lotus borders, traditional flat perspective.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf halo around Pañcabrahma Śiva, richly ornamented frame, liṅga with bilva leaves and lamps, priest offering flowers, embossed jewelry and aureole, saturated colors, devotional symmetry.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, refined linework, soft shading, instructional pūjā setup (kalasha, lamps, bilva, rudrākṣa), five-faced Śiva as subtle vision above, clear placement of ritual items, calm palette with gold highlights.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly precision, a small shrine interior with liṅga and lamps, priest reciting from palm-leaf, ethereal multi-faced Śiva apparition in cloud-like aureole, intricate textiles and architectural details, delicate brushwork."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairava","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: namas+te → namaste; rudra+rūpebhyaḥ → rudrarūpebhyaḥ; sadyaḥ+jātam/āya → sadyojātam/sadyojātāya; bhave 'nādi-bhave: avagraha indicates elision of initial a in anādi- after bhave.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 322 (Rudra-nāma-japa; Pañcabrahma context); Agni Purana 323 (Aghora-astra; śānti-kalpa continuation)
FAQs
It provides a mantra-sequence for Rudra/Śiva worship: salutations to multiple Rudra-epithets and an invocation of the Pañcabrahma aspect “Sadyojāta,” used in japa and pūjā to invoke specific Śaiva powers (śakti/kalā) and protection.
Beyond narrative, the Agni Purana preserves applied liturgical material—name-lists (nāma), epithets with theological functions (Kāla, Bhava, Bhavodbhava), and Pañcabrahma mantra elements—showing its coverage of practical temple/household ritual procedure alongside doctrine.
Chanting these salutations is framed as surrender to Śiva in all forms, seeking purification, protection, and grace across repeated “becomings” (bhave bhave), with the devotee appealing to the source of existence (Bhavodbhava) for liberation-oriented uplift of mind.