Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 5
Tvaritājñānam
Knowledge of Tvaritā, the Swift Goddess) — Agni Purana, Adhyāya 314 (as introduced after 313
स्वाहा वासुकिराजाय शङ्खपालाय वौषट् तक्षकाय वषन्नित्यं महापद्माय वै नमः
svāhā vāsukirājāya śaṅkhapālāya vauṣaṭ takṣakāya vaṣannityaṃ mahāpadmāya vai namaḥ
สวาหาแด่พระราชาวาสุกิ; วาวษฏแด่ศังขปาละ; แด่ตักษกะพึงถวายอาหุติด้วย “วษฏ” เป็นนิตย์; และขอนอบน้อมแด่มหาปัทมะโดยแท้.
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in mantra-prayoga)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Stotra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Nāga-propitiation through correctly paired offering-closures (svāhā/vauṣaṭ/vaṣaṭ/namaḥ) to avert serpent-related fear/obstacles and to secure protection in rites.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Nāga-mantra oblations: Vāsuki, Śaṅkhapāla, Takṣaka, Mahāpadma","lookup_keywords":["Vāsuki","Śaṅkhapāla","Takṣaka","Mahāpadma","nāga-mantra"],"quick_summary":"Invoke principal nāgas with specific oblation endings—svāhā, vauṣaṭ, vaṣaṭ, and namaḥ—forming a compact nāga-stuti used for protection and ritual success."}
Concept: Propitiation (śānti) through precise naming and ritual closure-words aligns the practitioner with protective cosmic beings (nāgas).
Application: Use as a short nāga-invocation in homa or protective recitation, especially when beginning rites in places associated with serpents or subterranean powers.
Khanda Section: Mantra & Puja-vidhi (Nāga-stuti / Nāga-mantra-prayoga)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Four nāga kings represented around a ritual fire: Vāsuki enthroned as serpent king, Śaṅkhapāla and Takṣaka poised near offerings, Mahāpadma associated with lotus imagery; a priest offers oblations with mantra endings displayed as calligraphic bands.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, vivid multi-hooded nāgas with jeweled hoods, lotus pond motif for Mahāpadma, priest at homa fire, mantra syllables ‘svāhā/vauṣaṭ/vaṣaṭ/namaḥ’ stylized in traditional script panels, temple-lamp ambience.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf halos on nāga kings, ornate jewelry, central homa-kuṇḍa, rich reds and greens, embossed gold borders, lotus throne for Mahāpadma, inscription bands for each nāga name and offering word.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, balanced composition with four labeled nāga figures, clear depiction of ritual implements (sruk, ghee pot), instructional clarity on which closure-word goes with which name.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined serpentine figures with delicate patterning, courtly arrangement around a small fire altar, calligraphy cartouches for each invocation, detailed textiles and subdued palette."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: vaṣannityaṃ = वषन् + नित्यम् (n → nn by sandhi in continuous recitation); many editions read वषट् नित्यम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 313 (nāga-mantra-prayoga; rakṣā rites)
FAQs
It gives a practical nāga-invocation formula using standard homa exclamations (svāhā, vauṣaṭ/vaṣaṭ) to address specific nāga-deities—Vāsuki, Śaṅkhapāla, Takṣaka, and Mahāpadma—typically for appeasement and protection.
Alongside theology and narrative, the Agni Purana preserves applied ritual technology—exact mantra-phrasing and offering-calls—showing its coverage of practical worship procedures (pujā/homa) and protective rites.
By offering and saluting nāga powers through correct sacrificial calls, the practitioner seeks pacification of serpent-related afflictions and gains ritual purity and protective merit (rakṣā) through respectful propitiation.