Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 1
Chapter 290 — गजशान्तिः
Gaja-śānti: Elephant-Pacification Rite
इत्य् आग्नेये महापुराणे अश्वशान्तिर्नामोननवत्यधिकद्विशततमो ऽध्यायः अथ नवत्यधिकद्विशततमो ऽध्यायः गजशान्तिः शालिहोत्र उवाच गजशान्तिं प्रवक्ष्यामि गजरोगविमर्दनीम् विष्णुं श्रियञ्च पञ्चम्यां नागम् ऐरावतं यजेत्
ity āgneye mahāpurāṇe aśvaśāntirnāmonanavatyadhikadviśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ atha navatyadhikadviśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ gajaśāntiḥ śālihotra uvāca gajaśāntiṃ pravakṣyāmi gajarogavimardanīm viṣṇuṃ śriyañca pañcamyāṃ nāgam airāvataṃ yajet
یوں اگنی مہاپُران میں ‘اشو-شانتی’ نامی دو سو نوّے واں باب مکمل ہوا۔ اب ‘گج-شانتی’ باب شروع ہوتا ہے۔ شالیہوتر نے کہا: میں ہاتھیوں کی بیماریوں کو دبانے والی گج-شانتی کی विधि بیان کرتا ہوں۔ پنچمی تِتھی کو وِشنو، شری (لکشمی) اور ناگ ایراوت کی پوجا کرنی چاہیے۔
Śālihotra
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Ayurveda","practical_application":"Designing a pañcamī-based śānti rite to avert/mitigate elephant illness and stabilize auspiciousness in royal/temple elephant management.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Gaja-śānti on Pañcamī (Viṣṇu–Śrī–Airāvata worship)","lookup_keywords":["gaja-śānti","pañcamī","Airāvata","gajaroga","Śālihotra"],"quick_summary":"Prescribes a timed pacification rite for elephants: on pañcamī, worship Viṣṇu and Śrī along with the Nāga Airāvata to suppress elephant diseases and restore auspicious conditions."}
Concept: Naimittika-śānti: aligning ritual action with time (tithi) and devatā-sambandha to restore order and well-being.
Application: Use prescribed tithi and devatā selection as a decision-rule for remedial rites when animal health/omens threaten prosperity.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Shanti-kalpa (Ritual pacification rites for animals and omens)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual pavilion where an elephant is prepared for pacification; a priest of Śālihotra lineage performs worship on pañcamī, offering flowers and lamps to Viṣṇu and Śrī, with Airāvata symbolically invoked.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat bold colors, ornate borders; Viṣṇu with Śrī seated on a lotus pedestal, priest performing ārati; a calm elephant adorned with nettipattam-like forehead ornament; pañcamī moon motif in corner.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold leaf work; central Viṣṇu–Lakṣmī icon with heavy jewelry, embossed aureole; foreground elephant with ceremonial cloth; priest holding lamp and conch; rich red-green palette.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, delicate linework and soft shading; instructional composition showing pañcamī tithi mark, offerings arranged (flowers, water pot, incense), priest gesturing mantra, elephant receiving blessings.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed courtly setting; royal elephant stable courtyard, Brahmin priest conducting pūjā before a small Viṣṇu–Śrī shrine; attendants holding parasol and flywhisk; fine architectural detailing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: इत्य्→इति; अश्वशान्तिर्नाम→अश्वशान्तिः नाम; ऽध्यायः→अध्यायः; श्रियञ्च→श्रियम् च; नागम् ऐरावतं→नागम् एैरावतम् (vowel sandhi).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 289 (Aśva-śānti); Agni Purana 290 (Gaja-śānti continuation: devatā-smaraṇa, nāga lists, homa/dakṣiṇā, omens)
FAQs
It introduces Gaja-śānti—a pacificatory worship procedure aimed at preventing or alleviating elephant diseases—specifying pañcamī observance and worship of Viṣṇu, Śrī (Lakṣmī), and Airāvata.
By embedding applied, practical knowledge—animal care framed through ritual and deity worship—alongside other topics, the text functions as a compendium that includes veterinary-style concerns (gajaroga) within a broader ritual-technical literature.
Performing Gaja-śānti is presented as a dharmic protective act: devotion to Viṣṇu and Śrī, and reverence to Airāvata, is believed to remove afflictions and restore auspiciousness for one’s animals and household prosperity.