Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 5
Chapter 290 — गजशान्तिः
Gaja-śānti: Elephant-Pacification Rite
गजाः शान्त्युदकासिक्ता वृद्धौ नैमित्तिकं सृणु गजानाम्मकरादौ च ऐशान्यां नगराद्वहिः
gajāḥ śāntyudakāsiktā vṛddhau naimittikaṃ sṛṇu gajānāmmakarādau ca aiśānyāṃ nagarādvahiḥ
Kapag ang mga elepante ay winisikan ng tubig ng śānti (tubig ng pagpapayapa), gumiginhawa ang kanilang kalagayan. Ngayon pakinggan ang mga palatandaan at bunga nito: para sa elepante, masamang tanda ang sa pasimula ng panahon ng Makara (Capricorn), at gayundin kapag (sila’y nasa) hilagang-silangan, sa labas ng lungsod.
Lord Agni (instructing Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Interpreting elephant-related omens by time (Makara period) and direction (Īśānya/NE) and applying a simple remedial act (śānty-udaka sprinkling) to restore welfare.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Gaja Naimittika-Lakṣaṇa: Makara-kāla and Īśānya Outside-City Omen; Śānty-udaka Remedy","lookup_keywords":["naimittika","Īśānya","Makara","śānty-udaka","gaja omen"],"quick_summary":"States that sprinkling elephants with pacificatory water improves their condition, and flags inauspicious contexts tied to Makara timing and NE/outside-city placement—prompting remedial rites and caution."}
Concept: Naimittika-dharma: reading signs in time and space and responding with measured remedial action to protect community prosperity (including royal animals).
Application: Maintain protocols: monitor elephants’ placement relative to city and NE sector; during Makara-related periods increase vigilance and perform śānti with water and associated rites.
Khanda Section: Vastu-shastra / Naimittika-Lakshana (Omens and remedial rites; animals and portents)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Type: Directional/settlement boundary
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"An elephant being sprinkled with consecrated water by attendants; a city gate in the background marking ‘outside the city’; the NE corner indicated by a compass-like diagram; seasonal Makara symbol (crocodile/Capricorn) shown as an omen marker.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, narrative panel: city wall and gate at right, elephant just outside; priest sprinkles water from a kalaśa; Īśānya corner marked with a small directional mandala; Makara emblem in border; bold earthy tones.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-highlighted kalaśa and water droplets; elephant richly caparisoned; city gate with ornate arch; Makara motif in gold at top; strong reds and greens with embossed detailing.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, semi-diagrammatic: elephant at center, attendant sprinkling water; clear compass rose labeling Īśānya; small inset showing Makara sign; clean lines for instructional clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, realistic urban edge: stone gate, guards, and an elephant outside; a Brahmin sprinkles water from a vessel; subtle celestial cartouche with Makara symbol; fine architectural perspective and textile detail."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: शान्त्युदकासिक्ता→शान्ति-उदक-आसिक्ताः; गजानाम्मकरादौ→गजानाम् मकरादौ; नगराद्वहिः→नगरात् बहिः (t→d before voiced consonant).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 290 (naimittika-lakṣaṇa segment within Gaja-śānti); Agni Purana 289 (Aśva-śānti: parallel animal-omen logic)
FAQs
It teaches a śānti-prayoga: sprinkling/bathing elephants with śānti-udaka as a practical pacificatory remedy, and it flags directional/time-based nimittas (Aiśānya; Makara-beginning) relevant to elephant management and omen-reading.
Beyond theology, it preserves applied knowledge used in governance and royal logistics—reading omens connected with state animals (elephants) and prescribing simple remedial rites—showing the Purana’s coverage of ritual, astrology/time markers, and Vastu-directional rules.
Performing śānti with consecrated water is presented as a purification and pacification act that neutralizes inauspicious portents, protecting prosperity and reducing harmful karmic outcomes indicated by adverse nimittas.