Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 27
Mantras for the Parasol and Other Royal/Worship Emblems (छत्रादिमन्त्रादयः)
व्याधिभिर्विविधैर् घोरैः शस्त्रैश् च युधि निर्जिताः पूतना रेवती लेखा कालरात्रीति पठ्यते
vyādhibhirvividhair ghoraiḥ śastraiś ca yudhi nirjitāḥ pūtanā revatī lekhā kālarātrīti paṭhyate
பயங்கரமான பலவகை நோய்களால் வாட்டப்படுவோரும், போரில் ஆயுதங்களால் தோற்கடிக்கப்படுவோரும்—அவர்களுக்காக ‘பூதனா, ரேவதி, லேகா, காலராத்திரி’ என்ற நாமங்கள் பாராயணம் செய்யப்படுகின்றன।
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the Agni Purāṇa’s common narrative frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Ayurveda","practical_application":"Name-recitation (nāma-japa) for śānti/rakṣā against disease afflictions and battle-injury/weapon-harm, invoking/appeasing specific graha/mātṛkā-like forces.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Pūtanā–Revatī–Lekhā–Kālarātrī nāma-pāṭha for vyādhi and śastra-bhaya","lookup_keywords":["vyadhi-shanti","Putana","Revati","Lekha","Kalaratri"],"quick_summary":"For those struck by terrible diseases or overcome by weapons in battle, recite the names Pūtanā, Revatī, Lekhā, and Kālarātrī as a protective/appeasement measure."}
Weapon Type: Śastra (generic weapons)
Concept: Nāma (sacred names) as apotropaic power; śānti through invocation/propitiation of afflicting forces.
Application: Recite the four names in a protective rite (japa with nyāsa/ācamanā as per local paddhati) for the sick or for soldiers before/after combat.
Khanda Section: Raksha-Mantra & Graha/Matṛkā-śānti (Protective incantations; disease- and affliction-warding section)
Primary Rasa: Bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: Shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A healer-priest performs protective recitation over a sick person and a wounded warrior; behind them loom symbolic fierce guardians: Pūtanā, Revatī, Lekhā, Kālarātrī as warding presences.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, two scenes in one: patient on a mat and a bandaged warrior, priest chanting; stylized fierce goddesses/spirits in the background with traditional ornaments, strong outlines, ritual lamps","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central Kālarātrī as protective deity with gold halo, smaller side panels naming Pūtanā, Revatī, Lekhā; below, devotees seeking relief from illness and battle wounds, rich gold embossing","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, didactic composition: priest reciting names written on a scroll, patient and soldier receiving blessings, gentle palette with precise detailing of ritual implements","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate interior with physician-priest and attendants, wounded soldier and ill patient, calligraphic cartouches bearing the four names, subtle supernatural motifs in the margins"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: vyādhibhirvividhair → vyādhibhiḥ vividhaiḥ; kālarātrīti → kālarātrī iti
Related Themes: Agni Purana graha-śānti/mātṛkā-śānti and rakṣā-mantra sections contiguous to this passage
FAQs
It teaches a rakṣā-prayoga (protective application) by nāma-paṭha—reciting specific graha/mātṛkā names (Pūtanā, Revatī, Lekhā, Kālarātrī) to counter severe diseases and harm connected with weapons and battle.
Alongside theology, the Agni Purāṇa preserves pragmatic ritual technology: concise, operational prescriptions for protection (rakṣā), graha/mātṛkā appeasement (śānti), and crisis-remedies spanning illness and warfare—showing its wide coverage of applied religious practice.
Name-recitation functions as a śānti act: it seeks to pacify hostile influences and reduce suffering, restoring auspiciousness and protection (rakṣā) during periods of intense duḥkha such as disease, night-terror, or battlefield danger.