Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 44
Mantra-paribhāṣā
Technical Definitions and Operational Rules of Mantras
अजेशः शर्मसोनेशौ तथा लाङ्गलिदारुकौ अर्धनारीश्वरश्चोमा कान्तश्चाषाढिदण्डिनौ
ajeśaḥ śarmasoneśau tathā lāṅgalidārukau ardhanārīśvaraścomā kāntaścāṣāḍhidaṇḍinau
อเชศะ; ศัรมโสเนศะ; เช่นเดียวกับ ลางคะลิน และ ดารุกะ; อรรธนารีศวร; อุมา; กานตะ; และอีกทั้ง อาษาฒิ กับ ทัณฑิน—ล้วนเป็นพระนามของศิวะ.
Lord Agni (narrating a Śiva-name litany within Agni Purana’s encyclopedic stotra material)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Stotra","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Recite these epithets in pūjā and dhyāna; select a specific name (e.g., Ardhanārīśvara) to align the worship with a chosen form and icon.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Śiva-nāmāvali: Ajeśa–Daṇḍin","lookup_keywords":["Ajeśa","Ardhanārīśvara","Umā","Kānta","Daṇḍin"],"quick_summary":"A name-cluster highlighting Śiva’s lordship (Ajeśa), his paired identity with Umā (Ardhanārīśvara), and ascetic/disciplinary aspects (Daṇḍin), usable for stotra-recitation and form-specific meditation."}
Alamkara Type: Paryāya (synonymic enumeration)
Concept: Non-dual complementarity: Śiva-Śakti unity signified by Ardhanārīśvara; the divine contains both transcendence and immanence.
Application: Meditate on inner balance of will (Śiva) and power/compassion (Śakti) during japa; use the name Umā/Kānta to cultivate relational devotion rather than fear-based worship.
Khanda Section: Nama-stotra / Sahasranama (Shiva Names within Agni Purana’s stotra-oriented sections)
Primary Rasa: Śānta
Secondary Rasa: Śṛṅgāra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A devotional roll-call of Śiva’s names culminating in the Ardhanārīśvara vision: half Śiva, half Umā, with a serene Kānta aspect and an ascetic Daṇḍin holding a staff.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Ardhanārīśvara centered with symmetrical split ornaments, Umā-side in bright sari tones, Śiva-side with ash and tiger-skin, surrounding text-band of names Ajeśa, Lāṅgalin, Dāruka, Daṇḍin, temple lamp glow.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, Ardhanārīśvara with heavy gold halo and embossed jewelry, Umā-side richly ornamented, Śiva-side with vibhūti stripes, gold-leaf background, small side panels for Daṇḍin and Kānta epithets.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, refined facial expressions, clear didactic split-body depiction with labeled attributes (triśūla/lotus, jaṭā/braid), soft gradients and delicate gold detailing.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, Ardhanārīśvara seated in a garden pavilion, attendants offering flowers, calligraphic cartouches listing the names, intricate textiles and subdued jewel tones."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ardhanārīśvaraścomā → ardhanārīśvaraḥ + ca + umā; kāntaścāṣāḍhidaṇḍinau → kāntaḥ + ca + āṣāḍhidaṇḍinau.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 292 (Śiva-sahasranāma continuation)
FAQs
This verse functions as a nāma-saṅgraha (name-list) used for japa and stotra-recitation; the practical application is devotional repetition of Śiva’s epithets to focus the mind and structure worship.
By cataloging divine epithets (including theological forms like Ardhanārīśvara), the Agni Purana preserves liturgical vocabulary alongside its many other domains—showing how ritual practice, theology, and language are systematized like a reference compendium.
Reciting Śiva’s names is traditionally held to purify speech and mind, cultivate bhakti, and generate puṇya (merit) through remembrance (smaraṇa) and disciplined japa.