Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 76
Ṛग्विधानम् (Ṛgvidhāna) — Applications of Ṛgvedic Mantras through Japa and Homa
दशोत्तराण्यृचाञ्चैताः पावमान्यः शतानि षट् एतज्जपंश् च जुह्वच्च घोरं मृत्युभयं जयेत्
daśottarāṇyṛcāñcaitāḥ pāvamānyaḥ śatāni ṣaṭ etajjapaṃś ca juhvacca ghoraṃ mṛtyubhayaṃ jayet
คาถาปวมานะเหล่านี้มีฤคทั้งหมดหกร้อยสิบบท ด้วยการสวดภาวนาและบูชาอาหุติลงในไฟ ย่อมชนะความหวาดกลัวต่อความตายอันน่าสะพรึง
Lord Agni (traditionally narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Protective japa and homa using Pavamāna ṛks; employed as apamṛtyu-bhaya (fear of death) śamana and general rakṣā in crisis rites.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Pavamāna Ṛk-japa and Homa (610 ṛks) for Mṛtyu-bhaya-jaya","lookup_keywords":["pavamāna","610 ṛk","japa","homa","mṛtyu-bhaya"],"quick_summary":"Recite the Pavamāna ṛks and perform oblations; this combined practice is prescribed as a protective rite to overcome intense fear of death."}
Concept: Rakṣā through śabda (japa) and agni (homa): disciplined repetition and offering transform fear into steadiness.
Application: In periods of grave anxiety (illness, danger, ominous dreams), undertake a regulated japa-homa cycle with purity observances, ideally under a competent officiant.
Khanda Section: Mantra-japa and Homa Vidhi (Pavamana Suktas for protection)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A homa altar blazing while a practitioner chants Pavamāna verses, offering ghee into fire to dispel fear of death.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, sacred fire altar with tall flames, priest chanting with raised ladle, smoke curling in stylized patterns, protective aura around the scene, earthy reds and ochres.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, homa-kunda with gold-leaf flame highlights, priest with ladle and ghee pot, radiant auspicious glow, ornate frame and temple lamps.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear instructional depiction of homa steps: ladle, ghee, kuśa, fire pit geometry, practitioner chanting; fine linework and labeled implements feel.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, nighttime homa in a courtyard, detailed firelight reflections, attendants holding vessels, manuscript stand nearby, delicate borders and realism."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: daśottarāṇyṛcāñcaitāḥ → daśa-uttarāṇi ṛcān ca etāḥ; etajjapaṃś ca → etat japam ca; juhvacca → juhvat ca.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 258 (Mantra-japa and homa vidhi; protective prayogas)
FAQs
It prescribes a practical sādhanā: recitation (japa) of the Pavamāna Vedic verses along with fire-offerings (homa) as a protective rite aimed at overcoming fear of death.
It exemplifies the text’s ritual-technology layer—cataloging specific Vedic hymn-corpora, their counts, and their applied use in japa/homa—alongside the Purāṇa’s many other domains (dharma, polity, medicine, arts).
The Pavamāna hymns are framed as purification-mantras; combined with homa, they function as an expiatory and protective act (śuddhi and rakṣā) that steadies the practitioner against the terror of mortality.