Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 19
The Root-Mantra of Tvaritā
Tvaritā-mūla-mantra
कुण्ड इति क वज्रतुण्दसमन्वित इति ट कुष्टाद्या व्याधयो ये तु नाशयेत्तान्न संशयः मध्यादिउत्तरान्तन्तु करालीबन्धनाज्जपेत्
kuṇḍa iti ka vajratuṇdasamanvita iti ṭa kuṣṭādyā vyādhayo ye tu nāśayettānna saṃśayaḥ madhyādiuttarāntantu karālībandhanājjapet
ให้สวดคำว่า ‘กุณฑะ’ ด้วยพยางค์ ‘กะ’ และสวดวลี ‘ประกอบด้วยวชระ-ตุณฑะ’ ด้วยพยางค์ ‘ฏะ’ ด้วยสิ่งนี้โรคที่เริ่มด้วยโรคเรื้อนย่อมถูกทำลาย—ไม่ต้องสงสัย ให้ทำชปะจากส่วนกลางไปจนจบ ตามแบบผูกมนต์ ‘กราลี-พันธนะ’.
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in encyclopedic vidyās)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Mantra-cikitsā for skin/major diseases (kuṣṭa etc.) using bīja/akṣara-linked recitation (‘ka’, ‘ṭa’) and a specified binding/arrangement (Karālī-bandhana) with a middle-to-end japa progression.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Karālī-bandhana Japa for Kuṣṭa-ādi Vyādhi-nāśa","lookup_keywords":["kushtha","mantra-chikitsa","karali-bandhana","japa-krama","ka-ta-bija"],"quick_summary":"Prescribes a structured japa (middle-to-end sequence) with specific syllable-couplings and a ‘Karālī-bandhana’ arrangement, asserted to destroy kuṣṭha and related diseases."}
Concept: Mantra as therapeutic instrument: phoneme-power (akṣara-śakti) + ordered recitation (krama) + protective binding (bandhana) to counter disease.
Application: A procedural template for mantra-healing: define bīja/akṣara triggers, specify recitation order, and seal with a protective ‘bandhana’ to stabilize intent and practitioner focus.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda / Mantra-Chikitsa (Protective and curative mantra applications)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A healer-sādhaka performs japa with a rosary, visualizing a fierce protective ‘Karālī’ binding around the patient; syllables ‘ka’ and ‘ṭa’ are shown as seed letters placed on a diagram from the middle to the end.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, seated mantra-healer beside a patient with skin lesions stylized, glowing akṣaras ‘क’ and ‘ट’ painted as luminous glyphs, a fierce Karālī aura forming a protective ring (bandhana), warm reds/ochres with bold outlines","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central Karālī protective halo in gold embossing behind the healer, patient seated respectfully, akṣara-glyphs in decorative cartouches, rich jewel tones and gold detailing","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style instructional illustration: mantra diagram with marked ‘middle’ and ‘end’ positions, arrows showing japa progression, healer performing nyāsa/bandhana gesture, soft colors and precise linework","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate clinic-like setting with a scholar-healer reciting from a folio, patient attended by aides, marginal calligraphy of ‘ka’ and ‘ṭa’, fine textiles and delicate shading"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"healing","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पाठे वर्णनिर्देशः: ‘कुण्ड इति क’ तथा ‘…समन्वित इति ट’; तान्न = तान् + न; मध्यादिउत्तरान्तन्तु = मध्य-आदि-उत्तर-अन्तम् + तु; करालीबन्धनाज्जपेत् = कराली-बन्धनात् + जपेत् (त् + ज → ज्ज)
Related Themes: Agni Purana 311.20 (jvara-kāsa vināśana via Vāruṇī-nyāsa); Agni Purana 311 (mantra-bandhana/nyāsa sequences)
FAQs
It teaches a mantra-prayoga: joining specific syllables (ka, ṭa) to given mantra-terms and performing japa in a prescribed ‘bandhana’ (Karālī-bandhana) sequence to remove diseases such as kuṣṭa.
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves practical healing technologies—here, a hybrid of Ayurvedic disease categories (kuṣṭa) and mantra-based therapeutic procedure (japa with bandhana).
The verse frames healing as a dharmic act achieved through disciplined japa and correct mantra-structure, implying purification and restoration of bodily order through sacred sound.