Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 8
The Six Limbs (Ṣaḍaṅga) of the Aghora-Astra (अघोरास्त्राणि षडङ्गानि)
त्रिंशद्वारानि जप्तानि तच्चौरेषु प्रदापयेत् दन्तैश्चूर्णानि शुक्लानि पतितानि हि शुद्धये
triṃśadvārāni japtāni taccaureṣu pradāpayet dantaiścūrṇāni śuklāni patitāni hi śuddhaye
त्रिंशद्वारानि जप्तानि; तच्चौरेषु प्रदापयेत्। दन्तैश्चूर्णानि शुक्लानि पतितानि हि शुद्धये (प्रयोज्यानि)।
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Apotropaic protection for thresholds/doorways against theft and a peculiar śuddhi/prāyaścitta use of ‘white tooth-scrapings’ as a purificatory substance after impurity.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Dvāra-Japa (Thirty Thresholds) for Anti-Theft and Tooth-White Powder Śuddhi","lookup_keywords":["dvāra-japa","trīṃśad-dvāra","caura-nivāraṇa","śuddhi","danta-cūrṇa"],"quick_summary":"Prescribes reciting the mantra at thirty doorways as a protective boundary against thieves, and mentions a purificatory use of white tooth-derived powder for cleansing after a fall into impurity."}
Concept: Śuddhi is restored through prescribed acts and substances; liminal spaces (doorways) are treated as key points for rakṣā.
Application: Implements household/compound protection by threshold-recitation and provides an expiatory/purificatory adjunct for states of defilement.
Khanda Section: Prāyaścitta & Śuddhi-vidhi (Purification rites / expiations)
Primary Rasa: bhayānaka
Secondary Rasa: śānta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A practitioner moves from doorway to doorway reciting a mantra, marking protective boundaries; separately, a small bowl holds fine white powder associated with purification after impurity.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: stylized house/temple corridor with multiple doorframes, priest reciting with japamālā, protective yantra-like marks on lintels; a small inset shows a white powder bowl for śuddhi.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: ornate doorway arches with gold accents, priest applying protective marks, rich colors; inset panel with ritual vessels and a small heap of white powder labeled for purification.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: instructional sequence—thirty doorways shown as numbered frames, practitioner at each; separate diagram of purification materials including the white powder, clean lines and captions.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: mansion with many doorways, a ritualist walking and chanting, attendants following; fine architectural detail, a small still-life of ritual powders and vessels."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तच्चौरेषु = तत् + चौरेषु; दन्तैश्चूर्णानि = दन्तैः + चूर्णानि.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 322 (continuation of rakṣā-prayoga using mantra-charged substances and spatial deployment)
FAQs
It prescribes a protective and purificatory practice: mantra-japa performed at multiple doorways (a boundary-protection method) and a specific śuddhi measure involving ‘white powders’ (cūrṇa) associated with teeth, used as an expiatory purifier after a fall into impurity.
Alongside theology, the Agni Purāṇa preserves applied ritual technology—household protection (anti-theft rites) and expiation (śuddhi/prāyaścitta)—illustrating its wide scope from spiritual doctrine to practical, procedural dharma.
It frames purity and protection as dharmic outcomes of disciplined japa and prescribed śuddhi acts, implying mitigation of impurity-born karmic fault (doṣa) and restoration of ritual eligibility (adhikāra).