Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 14
Adhyaya 314 — Tvaritājñāna
Immediate/Quick Knowledge) (Colophon/Transition
भूर्जे वा प्रतिमायां वा मारणाय रिपोर्ग्रहाः ॐ कुञ्जरी ब्रह्माणी ॐ मञ्जरी माहेश्वरी ॐ वेताली कौमारी ॐ काली वैष्णवी ॐ अघोरा वाराहि ॐ वेताली इन्त्राणी उर्वशी ॐ जयानी यक्षिणी नवमातरो हे मम शत्रुं गृह्णत भूर्जे नाम रिपोर्लिख्य श्मशाने पूजिते म्रियेत्
bhūrje vā pratimāyāṃ vā māraṇāya riporgrahāḥ oṃ kuñjarī brahmāṇī oṃ mañjarī māheśvarī oṃ vetālī kaumārī oṃ kālī vaiṣṇavī oṃ aghorā vārāhi oṃ vetālī intrāṇī urvaśī oṃ jayānī yakṣiṇī navamātaro he mama śatruṃ gṛhṇata bhūrje nāma riporlikhya śmaśāne pūjite mriyet
Upang idulot ang kamatayan ng kaaway, gamitin ang mga puwersang sumasakmal (graha) na ito sa dahon ng balat ng punong bhūrja o sa isang anyong-anyo: “Oṁ Kuñjarī bilang Brahmāṇī; Oṁ Mañjarī bilang Māheśvarī; Oṁ Vetālī bilang Kaumārī; Oṁ Kālī bilang Vaiṣṇavī; Oṁ Aghorā bilang Vārāhī; Oṁ Vetālī bilang Indrāṇī; (Oṁ) Urvaśī; Oṁ Jayānī bilang Yakṣiṇī. O Siyam na Ina, dakpin ninyo ang aking kaaway!” Kapag isinulat ang pangalan ng kaaway sa bhūrja at sinamba sa pook ng pagsusunog ng bangkay, sinasabing mamamatay (ang kaaway).
Lord Agni (teaching sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s instructional dialogue)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Māraṇa-kalpa: writing an enemy’s name on bhūrja (birch bark) or using an effigy, invoking navamātṛ/graha forces, and performing śmaśāna-pūjā for lethal intent.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Mantra","entry_title":"Navamātṛ-graha māraṇa on bhūrja/effigy with śmaśāna-pūjā","lookup_keywords":["navamatri","graha","bhurja-patra","pratima","marana-kalpa"],"quick_summary":"Gives a mantra-list invoking seizing forces aligned with mother-goddess powers, applied to birch-bark inscription or an effigy; worship in a cremation ground is said to effect the enemy’s death."}
Concept: Nāma-lekha and pratima as ritual substrates: identity is ‘captured’ through name/effigy and acted upon via invoked śaktis.
Application: Template for a coercive rite: select medium (bhūrja/pratimā) → inscribe target name → invoke navamātṛ/grahas → perform śmaśāna worship.
Khanda Section: Tantra-Mantra-Kalpa (Abhicāra / Māraṇa-kalpa)
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Type: Sacred/liminal site
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A birch-bark leaf inscribed with an enemy’s name lies on a ritual altar; an effigy stands nearby; around it appear the Nine Mothers as fierce protective/terrifying forms, while the rite is performed in a cremation ground.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, fierce Navamātṛ assembly with stylized weapons and vāhanas, central altar with bhūrja-patra inscription and small effigy, cremation-ground backdrop with lamps and ash tones, bold outlines and sacred intensity.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Navamātṛ as iconic goddesses with gold halos and ornaments, central bhūrja manuscript and effigy on a pedestal, gold leaf emphasis, symmetrical composition, ritual vessels in foreground.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, didactic depiction of mantra-lekha on birch bark and effigy worship, Navamātṛ shown in softer but clear iconographic differentiation, fine linework and gentle shading.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, night cremation-ground scene with detailed altar, birch-bark inscription, small effigy, semi-divine female figures rendered with Indo-Persian finesse, intricate textiles and architecture."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: रिपोर्ग्रहाः = रिपोः ग्रहाः; रिपोर्लिख्य = रिपोः लिख्य; पूजिते म्रियेत् = सति-सप्तमी + मुख्यक्रिया (when worshipped, he would die). IAST 'intrāṇī' normalized to इन्द्राणी.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 314 (māraṇa/abhicāra kalpas; graha lists; śmaśāna rites)
FAQs
It gives an abhicāra (hostile) ritual procedure for māraṇa: write the enemy’s name on birch-bark (or use an effigy), invoke specific śaktis/mātṛkās with mantras, and perform worship in a cremation ground to ‘seize’ the enemy.
Alongside theology and dharma, the Agni Purāṇa also preserves practical ritual technologies (kalpa)—including mantra-lists, material media (bhūrja, pratimā), and site-specific rites (śmaśāna)—showing its wide coverage of applied religious practice.
As an abhicāra rite, it reflects a transgressive, fearsome ritual stream centered on śakti and liminal spaces (cremation grounds); traditional dharma frameworks often warn that harmful intent accrues severe negative karma, even if such procedures are textually recorded.