Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 7
अश्ववाहनसारः
Aśvavāhana-sāra) — Essentials of Horses as Mounts (and Horse-Treatment
अभ्यासादभियोगाच्च विनाशास्त्रं स्ववाहकः स्नातस्य प्रङ्मुखस्याथ देवान् वपुषि योजयेत्
abhyāsādabhiyogācca vināśāstraṃ svavāhakaḥ snātasya praṅmukhasyātha devān vapuṣi yojayet
పునఃపునః అభ్యాసం మరియు ఏకాగ్ర అన్వయంతో, తన సాధనం/వాహనాన్ని స్వయంగా నిర్వహించిన సాధకుడు వినాశాస్త్ర ప్రయోగార్థం స్నానం చేసి తూర్పుముఖంగా నిలిచి దేవతలను తన శరీరంలో న్యాసంగా స్థాపించాలి।
Lord Agni (in dialogue tradition of Agni Purana, instructing sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Ritualized weapon-deployment protocol: disciplined practice, purification (snāna), east-facing posture, and bodily installation of deities as a prerequisite for invoking a destructive astra.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Vināśāstra-prayoga: Abhyāsa, śauca, prāṅmukhatva, and deva-nyāsa","lookup_keywords":["vinashastra","abhyasa","astra-prayoga","prangmukha","nyasa"],"quick_summary":"Effective astra-use requires both technical training and ritual readiness. After bathing and facing east, the practitioner performs deva-nyāsa on the body to empower the weapon-spell."}
Weapon Type: Astra (mantra-empowered projectile/weapon-spell)
Concept: Śakti is accessed through disciplined practice and purity; ritual order safeguards and focuses destructive power.
Application: Before any high-stakes operation, combine technical rehearsal with a standardized checklist (purification, orientation, mental focus) to reduce error and stabilize intent.
Khanda Section: Dhanurveda / Astra-mantra-vidhi (Weapon-incantation and deployment procedures)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Type: Direction
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A warrior-practitioner after bathing stands facing east at dawn, performing nyāsa gestures on his body before invoking a radiant weapon-spell; weapons and a conveyance stand nearby.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, dawn sky, warrior in simple cloth with wet hair, hands in nyāsa mudrā touching head, chest, limbs, a glowing astra aura, stylized weapons at side, temple-ritual ambience.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central standing warrior with gold halo-like astra radiance, ornate weapon displayed, eastward sun disc, heavy gold embellishment on borders and weapon details.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear instructional sequence: bathing pot, east direction marker, warrior performing nyāsa step-by-step, subtle glow indicating mantra activation, fine lines and calm composition.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, riverside bathing scene, warrior facing sunrise, attendants holding weapons, delicate rendering of light and landscape, small luminous script-like aura around hands."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: abhyāsādabhiyogācca = abhyāsāt abhiyogāt ca; prāṅmukhasya written as praṅmukhasya; yojayet is optative causative.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Dhanurveda/astravidhi chapters on astra-nyāsa, dik-bandhana, and prayoga-krama
FAQs
It prescribes the preparatory protocol for deploying a destructive astra: disciplined practice, focused engagement, ritual bathing, east-facing posture, and devatā-nyāsa (installing invoked deities on the body) before activation.
It exemplifies the Agni Purana’s coverage of applied sciences beyond theology—here, Dhanurveda blended with mantra-ritual method (purification, orientation, and nyāsa) as a technical manual for astra usage.
Bathing and nyāsa frame the act within ritual purity and divine authorization, implying that even forceful rites must be governed by self-discipline, sanctification, and controlled invocation rather than impulsive violence.