Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 47
अध्याय १ — यजुर्विधानम्
Agni Purana, Chapter 259: Yajur-vidhāna
दूर्वाकाण्डायुतं हुत्वा काण्डात् काण्डेति मानवः ग्रामे जनपदे वापि मरकन्तु शमन्नयेत्
dūrvākāṇḍāyutaṃ hutvā kāṇḍāt kāṇḍeti mānavaḥ grāme janapade vāpi marakantu śamannayet
దూర్వా గడ్డి కాండములు పదివేలు అగ్నిలో హోమం చేసి, ‘కాండాత్ కాండే’ అనే మంత్రంతో ఆహుతులు అర్పిస్తే, గ్రామంలో గానీ జనపదమంతట గానీ వ్యాపించిన మహామారిమరణాన్ని శమింపజేయవచ్చు.
Lord Agni (narrating Agni Purana teachings to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Public-calamity pacification (māraka/epidemic death) through large-count dūrvā-homa (10,000 stalks) with the mantra “kāṇḍāt kāṇḍe”, scalable from village to region.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Dūrvā-kāṇḍa sahasra-homa for māraka-śamana","lookup_keywords":["dūrvā","kāṇḍāt kāṇḍe","maraka","grāma-śānti","janapada-śānti"],"quick_summary":"A mass-offering of dūrvā stalks with a fixed mantra is prescribed as a śānti-kalpa to pacify epidemic mortality affecting a village or an entire territory."}
Dosha: Tridosha
Concept: Loka-saṅgraha: ritual action undertaken for collective protection and reduction of suffering.
Application: Organize a sanctioned community śānti-homa during outbreaks or mass fear, emphasizing collective intention and disciplined count-based offering.
Khanda Section: Agneya-vidya (Ritual Remedies and Public Calamity-Apacāra / Śānti)
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A large public homa where bundles of dūrvā grass are offered repeatedly; villagers gather as the priest chants “kāṇḍāt kāṇḍe,” symbolically halting epidemic death spreading through the region.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, wide frieze of community around a blazing homa, heaps of dūrvā rendered as rhythmic green strokes, priest chanting, protective deities implied in the sky band, solemn compassionate tone.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central altar with gold flames, dūrvā bundles stacked, villagers in devotional poses, ornate aureole around the ritual fire, emphasis on auspicious protection.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional tableau: counting bundles (10,000) shown as tall stacks, mantra caption “kāṇḍāt kāṇḍe”, clear ritual implements, calm authoritative composition.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed town-square ritual, attendants passing dūrvā bundles, expressive faces of anxious villagers, smoke drifting over rooftops as a protective veil."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"solemn","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: vāpi = vā + api. marakantu likely resolves as marakaṃ + tu (anusvāra lost in transmission). śamannayet resolves as śamam + nayet (m+n sandhi).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 259 (janapada-śānti prayogāḥ)
FAQs
It prescribes a śānti-homa using ten thousand dūrvā stalks, offered sequentially while reciting the formula “kāṇḍāt kāṇḍe”, to pacify epidemic mortality affecting a village or wider region.
Beyond theology, it records applied public-protection rites—community-level calamity management (maraka-śānti) through quantified offerings, specific substances (dūrvā), and a designated mantra—showing the text’s practical ritual-technology alongside its many other disciplines.
The rite frames epidemic pacification as a dharmic act of appeasement and purification: by disciplined homa and mantra, the practitioner seeks to neutralize destructive forces and restore collective wellbeing, accruing merit through protection of the community.