Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 13
Chapter 290 — गजशान्तिः
Gaja-śānti: Elephant-Pacification Rite
पूर्वादौ चौषधीभिश् च देवानां भाजनं पृथक् पृथक्शताहुतीश्चाज्यैर् गजानर्च्य प्रदक्षिणं
pūrvādau cauṣadhībhiś ca devānāṃ bhājanaṃ pṛthak pṛthakśatāhutīścājyair gajānarcya pradakṣiṇaṃ
مشرق سے آغاز کرکے، اوषधیوں کے ساتھ دیوتاؤں کے لیے الگ الگ نذر کے برتن رکھے۔ پھر گھی سے ہر ایک کے لیے سو سو آہوتیاں دے، ہاتھیوں کی پوجا کرے اور دائیں طرف سے طواف (پردکشنہ) کرے۔
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha, as the primary narrator of Agni Purana’s ritual sections)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Ayurveda","practical_application":"Conducting directional pūjā and homa: preparing separate deity vessels, using oṣadhis in offerings, performing specified ghee oblations, honoring guardian elephants, and completing pradakṣiṇā.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Devatā-bhājana-bheda and śatāhuti-homa with oṣadhi and ājya; gaja-arcana and pradakṣiṇā","lookup_keywords":["oṣadhi","bhājana","śatāhuti","ājya homa","gaja-arcana"],"quick_summary":"Set separate offering vessels for each deity starting from the east, include medicinal herbs in the rite, offer a hundred ghee oblations per deity, worship the guardian elephants, and conclude with clockwise circumambulation."}
Concept: Order (krama) and differentiation (pṛthak-bhāva) in worship: each deity receives distinct attention; repetition (śatāhuti) builds ritual potency.
Application: In complex rites, separate vessels and fixed counts prevent confusion and ensure completeness; pradakṣiṇā seals the rite with embodied reverence.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Yajna-homa and Devata-arcana procedures)
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A consecration altar with multiple separate offering vessels arranged from the east; priests adding herbs and pouring ghee into fire for repeated oblations; painted/enshrined directional elephants being honored; participants performing clockwise circumambulation.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, sacred fire altar with priests offering ājya, bowls of herbs, directional elephants painted on walls, figures moving in pradakṣiṇā, warm ochres and reds with bold outlines","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, glowing homa fire with gold accents, neatly arranged vessels, stylized elephants as guardians, ornate temple setting, devotional richness","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional layout showing vessels labeled per deity, sequence starting east, depiction of 100 oblations as repeated ladle motion, clear pradakṣiṇā path around altar","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly ritual scene with fire pit, attendants holding vessels and herbs, elephants depicted on banners/panels for directions, circular movement of participants, fine detailing"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"ritualistic","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: cauṣadhībhiś ca = ca + auṣadhībhiḥ + ca; pṛthakśatāhutīś cājyaiḥ = pṛthak + śata-āhutīḥ + ca + ājyaiḥ; gajānarcya = gajān + arcya.
Related Themes: Agni Purana homa-vidhi and pūjā-krama sections; adhyāya 290 continuation on offerings and dismissal
FAQs
It gives a procedural rule for worship/homa: begin from the east, arrange separate vessels for each deity, offer fixed-count oblations (hundreds) with ghee, include herb-offerings, then conclude with worship of gajas and clockwise circumambulation.
It preserves precise ritual micro-instructions—directional order, materials (auṣadhi, ājya), quantified offerings (śata-āhutī), and concluding acts (pradakṣiṇā)—showing the text’s catalog-like coverage of practical liturgy alongside other sciences.
Following the prescribed order, purity of materials, and disciplined offering-count is presented as ensuring ritual correctness (yajña-śuddhi), pleasing the deities, and generating merit through orderly worship and pradakṣiṇā.