Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 1
The Six Limbs (Ṣaḍaṅga) of the Aghora-Astra (अघोरास्त्राणि षडङ्गानि)
इत्य् आग्नेये महापुराणे पाशुपतशान्तिर्नामैकविंशत्यधिकत्रिशततमो ऽध्यायः असाध्यमपीति ख अथ द्वाविंशत्यधिकत्रिशततमो ऽध्यायः षडङ्गान्यघोरास्त्राणि ईश्वर उवाच ॐ ह्रूं हंस+इति मन्त्रेण मृत्युरोगादि शास्यति लक्षाहुतिभिर्दूर्वाभिः शान्तिं पुष्टिं प्रसाधयेत्
ity āgneye mahāpurāṇe pāśupataśāntirnāmaikaviṃśatyadhikatriśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ asādhyamapīti kha atha dvāviṃśatyadhikatriśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ ṣaḍaṅgānyaghorāstrāṇi īśvara uvāca oṃ hrūṃ haṃsa+iti mantreṇa mṛtyurogādi śāsyati lakṣāhutibhirdūrvābhiḥ śāntiṃ puṣṭiṃ prasādhayet
Sa gayon, sa Agni Mahāpurāṇa, ang kabanatang tinatawag na “Pāśupata-Śānti” ay ang ika-321. Pagkaraan nito ay nagsisimula ang ika-322 kabanata: “Ang Ṣaḍaṅga (Anim na Sangkap) ng Aghora-Astra.” Wika ng Panginoon (Īśvara): “Sa pamamagitan ng mantra na ‘Oṃ hrūṃ haṃsa,’ napapasuko ang kamatayan, sakit, at iba pa. Sa isang lakh (100,000) na handog sa apoy gamit ang damong dūrvā, dapat maisakatuparan ang śānti (kapayapaan) at puṣṭi (pagpapalakas/kasaganaan).”
Īśvara (Lord Śiva, as teacher of Aghora/Śaiva mantra-vidyā)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Aghora-astra ṣaḍaṅga-mantra prayoga for śānti and puṣṭi; targeted subjugation of mṛtyu-bhaya and roga through japa and large-scale homa with dūrvā.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Mantra","entry_title":"Oṃ Hrūṃ Haṃsa Mantra: Japa and Dūrvā-Homa for Mṛtyu-Roga-Śānti and Puṣṭi","lookup_keywords":["oṃ hrūṃ haṃsa","aghora-astra","ṣaḍaṅga-mantra","dūrvā-homa","lakṣa-ahuti"],"quick_summary":"The mantra ‘Oṃ hrūṃ haṃsa’ is stated to subdue death and disease; one lakh oblations with dūrvā grass are prescribed to accomplish peace and nourishment/prosperity."}
Concept: Mantra as ‘astra’: sound-formula empowered by count (lakṣa) and offering (āhuti) to effect śānti and puṣṭi.
Application: Structured vow-like practice: fixed japa/āhuti counts, purity, and continuity for crisis-remediation (illness, fear, calamity).
Khanda Section: Mantra-tantra & Śānti-kalpa (Pāśupata-śānti; Aghora-astra; Ṣaḍaṅga-mantra prayoga)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Īśvara teaching a concise mantra; a practitioner performs extensive dūrvā oblations into a homa fire for peace and nourishment.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: seated Īśvara as guru, palm raised in instruction; foreground homa-kuṇḍa with repeated dūrvā offerings, rhythmic flames, serene green tones emphasizing dūrvā and śānti.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: guru-Śiva figure with gold halo; homa altar with gold accents; dūrvā rendered as stylized green blades; inscription panel ‘oṃ hrūṃ haṃsa’.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: diagrammatic yet devotional scene—counting beads, dūrvā bundles, ladle, and homa sequence; fine shading and clear instructional labeling motifs.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: courtly pavilion turned ritual space; meticulous depiction of grass bundles, fire, and rosary; calligraphy cartouche with the mantra."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Ahir Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: इत्याग्नेये = इति + आग्नेये; पाशुपतशान्तिर्नाम = पाशुपतशान्तिः + नाम; एकविंशत्यधिकत्रिशततमोऽध्यायः = एकविंशति-अधिक-त्रिशततमः + अध्यायः; असाध्यमपीति = असाध्यम् + अपि + इति; द्वाविंशत्यधिकत्रिशततमोऽध्यायः = द्वाविंशति-अधिक-त्रिशततमः + अध्यायः; षडङ्गान्यघोरास्त्राणि = षडङ्गानि + अघोरास्त्राणि; लक्षाहुतिभिर्दूर्वाभिः = लक्षाहुतिभिः + दूर्वाभिः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 321 (Pāśupata-śānti); Agni Purana 322 (Aghora-astra ṣaḍaṅga section)
FAQs
It teaches a Śaiva mantra-prayoga: using the mantra “oṃ hrūṃ haṃsa” with a specified count of oblations (lakṣa-āhuti) using dūrvā grass to pacify and control death- and disease-causing afflictions, producing śānti and puṣṭi.
Alongside theology and narrative, it preserves operational ritual technology—mantras, materials (dūrvā), and quantified offerings—showing the Purāṇa as a compendium of applied disciplines (śānti-kalpa, protective rites, and ritualized healing).
The rite frames suffering (disease, untimely death) as pacifiable through disciplined mantra and offering, aiming at purification and harmonization (śānti) and life-supporting increase (puṣṭi), thereby restoring auspicious order for the practitioner and household.