Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 1
The Six Limbs (Ṣaḍaṅga) of the Aghora-Astra (अघोरास्त्राणि षडङ्गानि)
इत्य् आग्नेये महापुराणे पाशुपतशान्तिर्नामैकविंशत्यधिकत्रिशततमो ऽध्यायः असाध्यमपीति ख अथ द्वाविंशत्यधिकत्रिशततमो ऽध्यायः षडङ्गान्यघोरास्त्राणि ईश्वर उवाच ॐ ह्रूं हंस+इति मन्त्रेण मृत्युरोगादि शास्यति लक्षाहुतिभिर्दूर्वाभिः शान्तिं पुष्टिं प्रसाधयेत्
ity āgneye mahāpurāṇe pāśupataśāntirnāmaikaviṃśatyadhikatriśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ asādhyamapīti kha atha dvāviṃśatyadhikatriśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ ṣaḍaṅgānyaghorāstrāṇi īśvara uvāca oṃ hrūṃ haṃsa+iti mantreṇa mṛtyurogādi śāsyati lakṣāhutibhirdūrvābhiḥ śāntiṃ puṣṭiṃ prasādhayet
இவ்வாறு அக்னி மகாபுராணத்தில் ‘பாசுபத-சாந்தி’ எனும் அதிகாரம் 321-ஆம் அதிகாரம். அடுத்து 322-ஆம் அதிகாரம்—‘அகோராஸ்திரத்தின் ஷடங்கங்கள்’. ஈச்வரன் கூறினார்: ‘ஓம் ஹ்ரூம் ஹம்ஸ’ என்ற மந்திரத்தால் மரணம், நோய் முதலியவை அடக்கப்படும். தூர்வா புல்லால் ஒரு லட்சம் ஆஹுதிகள் அளித்து சாந்தியும் புஷ்டியும் நிறைவேற்ற வேண்டும்.
Īśvara (Lord Śiva, as teacher of Aghora/Śaiva mantra-vidyā)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Aghora-astra ṣaḍaṅga-mantra prayoga for śānti and puṣṭi; targeted subjugation of mṛtyu-bhaya and roga through japa and large-scale homa with dūrvā.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Mantra","entry_title":"Oṃ Hrūṃ Haṃsa Mantra: Japa and Dūrvā-Homa for Mṛtyu-Roga-Śānti and Puṣṭi","lookup_keywords":["oṃ hrūṃ haṃsa","aghora-astra","ṣaḍaṅga-mantra","dūrvā-homa","lakṣa-ahuti"],"quick_summary":"The mantra ‘Oṃ hrūṃ haṃsa’ is stated to subdue death and disease; one lakh oblations with dūrvā grass are prescribed to accomplish peace and nourishment/prosperity."}
Concept: Mantra as ‘astra’: sound-formula empowered by count (lakṣa) and offering (āhuti) to effect śānti and puṣṭi.
Application: Structured vow-like practice: fixed japa/āhuti counts, purity, and continuity for crisis-remediation (illness, fear, calamity).
Khanda Section: Mantra-tantra & Śānti-kalpa (Pāśupata-śānti; Aghora-astra; Ṣaḍaṅga-mantra prayoga)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Īśvara teaching a concise mantra; a practitioner performs extensive dūrvā oblations into a homa fire for peace and nourishment.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: seated Īśvara as guru, palm raised in instruction; foreground homa-kuṇḍa with repeated dūrvā offerings, rhythmic flames, serene green tones emphasizing dūrvā and śānti.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: guru-Śiva figure with gold halo; homa altar with gold accents; dūrvā rendered as stylized green blades; inscription panel ‘oṃ hrūṃ haṃsa’.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: diagrammatic yet devotional scene—counting beads, dūrvā bundles, ladle, and homa sequence; fine shading and clear instructional labeling motifs.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: courtly pavilion turned ritual space; meticulous depiction of grass bundles, fire, and rosary; calligraphy cartouche with the mantra."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Ahir Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: इत्याग्नेये = इति + आग्नेये; पाशुपतशान्तिर्नाम = पाशुपतशान्तिः + नाम; एकविंशत्यधिकत्रिशततमोऽध्यायः = एकविंशति-अधिक-त्रिशततमः + अध्यायः; असाध्यमपीति = असाध्यम् + अपि + इति; द्वाविंशत्यधिकत्रिशततमोऽध्यायः = द्वाविंशति-अधिक-त्रिशततमः + अध्यायः; षडङ्गान्यघोरास्त्राणि = षडङ्गानि + अघोरास्त्राणि; लक्षाहुतिभिर्दूर्वाभिः = लक्षाहुतिभिः + दूर्वाभिः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 321 (Pāśupata-śānti); Agni Purana 322 (Aghora-astra ṣaḍaṅga section)
FAQs
It teaches a Śaiva mantra-prayoga: using the mantra “oṃ hrūṃ haṃsa” with a specified count of oblations (lakṣa-āhuti) using dūrvā grass to pacify and control death- and disease-causing afflictions, producing śānti and puṣṭi.
Alongside theology and narrative, it preserves operational ritual technology—mantras, materials (dūrvā), and quantified offerings—showing the Purāṇa as a compendium of applied disciplines (śānti-kalpa, protective rites, and ritualized healing).
The rite frames suffering (disease, untimely death) as pacifiable through disciplined mantra and offering, aiming at purification and harmonization (śānti) and life-supporting increase (puṣṭi), thereby restoring auspicious order for the practitioner and household.