Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 1
Chapter 283 — Mantras as Medicine (मन्त्ररूपौषधकथनम्)
आनि नाम द्व्यशीत्यधिकद्विशततमो ऽध्यायः पञ्चविशतिरिति ञ , ट च कर्पूरजहुकातैलमिति ख कर्पूरजानुकातैलमिति ज अथ त्र्यशीत्यधिकद्विशततमो ऽध्यायः मन्त्ररूपौषधकथनं धन्वन्तरिर् उवाच आयुरारोग्यकर्तर ओंकारद्याश् च नाकदाः ओंकारः परमो मन्त्रस्तं जप्त्वा चामरो भवेत्
āni nāma dvyaśītyadhikadviśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ pañcaviśatiriti ña , ṭa ca karpūrajahukātailamiti kha karpūrajānukātailamiti ja atha tryaśītyadhikadviśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ mantrarūpauṣadhakathanaṃ dhanvantarir uvāca āyurārogyakartara oṃkāradyāś ca nākadāḥ oṃkāraḥ paramo mantrastaṃ japtvā cāmaro bhavet
اب ‘منتر-روپ اوشدھ کتھن’ نامی دو سو تراسیواں باب شروع ہوتا ہے۔ دھنونتری نے کہا—‘اومکار اور اوم سے شروع ہونے والے منتر اصول عمر اور عافیت عطا کرتے ہیں اور سادھک کو آسمانی حالت تک لے جاتے ہیں۔ اومکار ہی پرم منتر ہے؛ اس کا جپ کرنے سے انسان امرتا پاتا ہے۔’
Dhanvantari
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Ayurveda","practical_application":"Mantra-therapy and longevity practice centered on Oṃ: using japa of Oṃ as a supreme mantra for āyus (lifespan), ārogya (health), and transcendence of death; establishes chapter scope ‘mantra as medicine’.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Mantra","entry_title":"Oṃkāra as Mantra-Rūpa Auṣadha (Supreme Mantra for Āyus and Ārogya)","lookup_keywords":["oṃkāra","mantra-rūpa-auṣadha","āyus","ārogya","Dhanvantari"],"quick_summary":"Dhanvantari teaches that Oṃ and Oṃ-beginning mantras bestow health and longevity; Oṃ is declared supreme, and its repetition is praised as leading toward deathlessness."}
Concept: Oṃ as the supreme mantra (praṇava) linking health, longevity, and liberation-oriented ‘deathlessness’.
Application: Adopts praṇava-japa as a daily sādhanā for mental steadiness and as a sacral support to well-being and long life.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Mantra-rūpa Auṣadha / Mantra-therapy and longevity practices)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Dhanvantari instructs disciples on ‘mantras as medicine’; the syllable Oṃ is depicted prominently, with a calm sādhaka performing japa, suggesting health and longevity.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Dhanvantari seated with medicinal pot (amṛta-kalaśa) and scripture, large stylized Oṃ glyph behind, disciples listening, warm earthy palette and flat iconic forms.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Dhanvantari with gold halo and ornate jewelry, Oṃ rendered in gold leaf, disciples with rosaries, rich red background, temple-like framing.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional scene: Dhanvantari pointing to a manuscript titled mantra-rūpa-auṣadha, practitioner doing japa with mālā, subtle depiction of breath and calm mind, fine detailing.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholarly assembly with Dhanvantari as physician-sage, calligraphic Oṃ on a folio, attendants with herb jars, refined architecture and textiles, serene expressions."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Ahir Bhairav","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: dviśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ→द्विशततमः अध्यायः; dhanvantarir uvāca→धन्वन्तरिः उवाच; oṃkāradyāś→ओंकार-आद्याः; mantrastaṃ→मन्त्रः तम्; japtvā cāmaro→जप्त्वा च अमरः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 283 (entire chapter on mantra-rūpa auṣadha); Agni Purana 282 (preceding practical remedies and occult operations as contrast/complement)
FAQs
It teaches mantra-therapy: the Praṇava (Oṃ) is prescribed as a supreme mantra whose japa is said to promote longevity (āyus) and health (ārogya), functioning as a spiritual-therapeutic remedy.
It demonstrates the text’s Ayurveda coverage by integrating medical aims (disease-free life, longevity) with ritual practice (mantra-japa), showing how the Agni Purana compiles practical health instruction alongside religious disciplines.
The verse frames Oṃ-japa as purificatory and merit-bearing, promising uplift to a heavenly state and culminating benefit described as ‘deathlessness’ (amara-bhāva), i.e., transcending fear of death through sustained spiritual practice.