Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 1
Chapter 323 — The Six-Limbed Aghora Astras (षडङ्गान्यघोरस्त्राणि)
उरूप चट प्रचट कट वम घातय हूं फट् अघोरास्त्रम् इत्य् आग्नेये महापुराणे षडङ्गान्यघोरस्त्राणि नाम द्वाविंशत्यधिकत्रिशततमो ऽध्यायः अथ त्रयोविंशत्यधिकत्रिशततमो ऽध्यायः रुद्रशान्तिः ईश्वर उवाच शिवशान्तिं प्रवक्ष्यामि कल्पाघोरप्रपूर्वकम् सप्तकोट्यधिपो घोरो ब्रह्महत्याद्यघार्दनः
urūpa caṭa pracaṭa kaṭa vama ghātaya hūṃ phaṭ aghorāstram ity āgneye mahāpurāṇe ṣaḍaṅgānyaghorastrāṇi nāma dvāviṃśatyadhikatriśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ atha trayoviṃśatyadhikatriśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ rudraśāntiḥ īśvara uvāca śivaśāntiṃ pravakṣyāmi kalpāghoraprapūrvakam saptakoṭyadhipo ghoro brahmahatyādyaghārdanaḥ
‘உரூப, சட், ப்ரசட், கட், வம், காதய, ஹூம், பட்’—இது அோராஸ்திர மந்திரம். இவ்வாறு அக்னி மஹாபுராணத்தில் ‘ஷடங்க அோராஸ்திரங்கள்’ எனும் 323ஆம் அதிகாரம் நிறைவு. இப்போது 324ஆம் அதிகாரம் ‘ருத்ரசாந்தி’ தொடங்குகிறது. ஈஸ்வரன் கூறினார்: “அோர-கல்பத்திற்கு முன்னோடியாகிய சிவசாந்தி விதியை நான் உரைப்பேன். ஏழு கோடி கணங்களின் அதிபதி, பயங்கர (அோர) ருத்ரன், பிரஹ்மஹத்த்யா முதலிய பாபங்களை அழிப்பவன்।”
Īśvara (Śiva/Rudra) — explicitly marked by “īśvara uvāca” in the opening of Rudraśānti
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Deployment of Aghora-astra mantra (with hūṃ/phaṭ) as a protective/clearing rite preceding Rudra-śānti; used for sin-destruction and pacification.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Mantra","entry_title":"Aghora-astra Mantra & Prelude to Rudra-Śānti","lookup_keywords":["Aghora-astra","hūṃ phaṭ","śānti-kalpa","Rudra-śānti","brahmahatyā-nāśa"],"quick_summary":"Provides the Aghora ‘weapon’ mantra used as a preliminary purificatory and protective strike, then introduces Rudra-śānti as a pacificatory rite capable of destroying grave sins."}
Weapon Type: Astra (mantra-weapon)
Concept: Fierce divine power (Aghora) is harnessed first to remove obstacles/impurities, enabling śānti (pacification) and moral-spiritual restoration even from heavy pāpa.
Application: Use the astra mantra as a preliminary ‘clearing’ in rites (dik-bandhana/bhūta-śuddhi), then proceed to Rudra-śānti for stabilization and reconciliation.
Khanda Section: Mantra-śāstra / Tantra: Śānti-kalpa (Aghora-astra & Rudra-śānti)
Primary Rasa: Vira
Secondary Rasa: Bhayānaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Aghora-astra mantra visualized as a fiery syllabic bolt launched from Rudra’s hand, clearing dark miasma; then a calm śānti altar appears, indicating transition from fierce to pacificatory rite.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, fierce Aghora Rudra with flaming aura, mantra-syllables as stylized flames, dark spirits dissolving, then a secondary vignette of śānti altar with lamps and flowers, traditional bold outlines.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, Aghora Rudra with gold radiance, raised hand emitting a fiery ‘astra’ stream, gold-leaf highlights on flames, small śānti maṇḍala/altar below, rich reds and blues.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore, semi-instructional two-panel composition: left shows astra deployment (hand gesture, flame), right shows śānti setup (altar items), fine linework and gentle gold accents.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, dramatic yet detailed scene of a yogin invoking Aghora, a calligraphic flame-bolt arcs outward, smoky negativity disperses, then a neat ritual space with offerings, intricate architecture."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"fast","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ity āgneye: iti + āgneye; ṣaḍaṅgāni+aghora-astrāṇi → ṣaḍaṅgānyaghorastrāṇi; dvāviṃśatyadhika-triśatatamaḥ: numeric compound; adhyāyaḥ with avagraha indicates elision in 'tamo 'dhyāyaḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 323 (Ṣaḍaṅga Aghora-astra section); Agni Purana 324 (Rudra-śānti begins immediately after)
FAQs
It provides an astramantra (Aghorāstra) built from command-syllables and bījas (hūṃ, phaṭ) used for protection, obstacle-cutting, and subduing; it also introduces the Rudraśānti procedure as being preceded by the Aghora-kalpa.
It exemplifies the Agni Purana’s cataloging of practical ritual technologies—mantric ‘weapons,’ ṣaḍaṅga auxiliaries (nyāsa framework), and śānti rites—alongside its many other domains (law, polity, medicine, arts).
The passage frames Aghora/Rudra practice as a purificatory power capable of crushing grave sins (e.g., brahmahatyā) and restoring śānti (pacification), emphasizing ritual atonement and protection through Śiva’s fierce grace.