Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 7
Chapter 288 — अश्वचिकित्सा
Aśva-cikitsā) | Horse-Medicine (Śālihotra to Suśruta
मृक्कण्याञ्च ललाटे च कर्णमूले निगालके बाहुमूले गले श्रेष्ठा आवर्तास्त्वशुभाः परे
mṛkkaṇyāñca lalāṭe ca karṇamūle nigālake bāhumūle gale śreṣṭhā āvartāstvaśubhāḥ pare
నడుము/నితంబ పక్కన, నుదిటిపై, చెవి మూలంలో, గొంతు గుంటలో (నిగాలక), భుజమూలంలో మరియు గొంతులో ఉన్న ఆవర్తాలు శ్రేష్ఠం; ఇతర చోట్ల ఉన్నవి అశుభం.
Lord Agni (teaching the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Jyotisha","secondary_vidya":"Ayurveda","practical_application":"Physiognomic omen-reading: determining auspicious/inauspicious outcomes based on whorl placement for personal assessment, matchmaking, service selection, and ritual timing confidence.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Āvarta-sthāna-phala: excellent vs inauspicious whorl locations","lookup_keywords":["avarta-sthana","samudrika-lakshana","forehead-whorl","ear-root","throat-hollow"],"quick_summary":"Defines which whorl locations are considered excellent (hip-side, forehead, ear-root, throat hollow) and states that other placements are inauspicious. Used as a quick decision rule."}
Concept: Nimitta-śāstra: localized bodily patterns are mapped to auspiciousness judgments.
Application: Use as a screening heuristic; corroborate with broader samudrika indicators rather than relying on a single mark.
Khanda Section: Samudrika-lakshana / Sharira-lakshana (Physiognomy and bodily omens)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A physiognomist indicates spiral whorls at the hip-side, forehead, ear-root, and throat hollow on a standing figure; other body areas are shown with crossed marks as inauspicious.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, standing figure with stylized spiral motifs at specified points, examiner with staff and manuscript, clear icon-like marking system, warm ochres and greens","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, ornamental depiction of the human figure with highlighted auspicious whorls in gold accents, examiner and patron, decorative borders and rich colors","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, diagrammatic body map with spirals at forehead/ear-root/throat/hip, minimal background, instructional clarity and fine brushwork","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholar-physiognomist in a study pointing to a figure, subtle spiral marks, marginal notes on a folio, refined detailing"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhoopali","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: मृक्कण्याम्+च→मृक्कण्याञ्च (अनुस्वार/ञ्-आदेश); आवर्तास्+तु→आवर्तास्तु; तु+अशुभाः→त्वशुभाः (उकारस्य वकारादेशः)।
Related Themes: Agni Purana 288 (āvarta and śarīra-lakṣaṇa sequence)
FAQs
It imparts Samudrika-lakṣaṇa knowledge: how to judge auspiciousness or inauspiciousness based on the location of āvarta (whorl/spiral bodily marks), identifying specific sites deemed favorable.
Beyond theology and ritual, the Agni Purana catalogs applied knowledge systems such as physiognomy and omen-reading, offering practical diagnostic rules (here, āvarta-location omens) alongside other disciplines.
In the Puranic worldview, bodily marks are read as indicators of prior merit and future fortune; knowing auspicious and inauspicious placements guides social and personal decisions aligned with dharma and perceived karmic outcomes.