Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 6
Pañcāṅga-Rudra-vidhāna
The Fivefold Rudra Rite
आद्यानान्तिमृणां त्रिष्टुप्छन्दो ऽनुष्ठुव्द्वयोरपि उत्तरगोनस इति ज , ट च छन्दस्त्रिष्टुभमन्त्यायाः पुरुषो ऽस्यापि देषता
ādyānāntimṛṇāṃ triṣṭupchando 'nuṣṭhuvdvayorapi uttaragonasa iti ja , ṭa ca chandastriṣṭubhamantyāyāḥ puruṣo 'syāpi deṣatā
‘آ’ سے شروع ہو کر ‘مِر’ پر ختم ہونے والے (گن/حروفی مجموعہ) کا چھند ‘ترِشٹُبھ’ ہے؛ اور اَنُشٹُپ کے دو نمونوں کے لیے بھی ‘اُتّر-گن’ کہا جاتا ہے۔ گن ‘ج’ اور ‘ٹ’ حروف سے متعین ہیں؛ آخری کا چھند ترِشٹُبھ ہے اور اس کی دیوتا بھی ‘پُرُش’ ہی ہے۔
Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purana narrator) instructing sage Vasiṣṭha
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Prosody instruction: identify gaṇas (ja, ṭa) and apply them to determine Triṣṭubh/Anuṣṭubh patterns and associated devatā assignment for recitation protocol.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Gaṇa-nirdeśa for chandas: uttara-gaṇa, ja/ṭa markers; Triṣṭubh/Anuṣṭubh determination; Puruṣa devatā","lookup_keywords":["gaṇa ja ṭa","uttara-gaṇa","Triṣṭubh rules","Anuṣṭubh patterns","Puruṣa devatā"],"quick_summary":"Explains how specific gaṇa patterns (denoted by ja and ṭa) and ‘uttara-gaṇa’ identification guide meter recognition (Triṣṭubh/Anuṣṭubh) and maintain correct devatā linkage in chanting."}
Concept: Sound-structure (chandas) is rule-governed; correct gaṇa parsing preserves textual integrity and ritual correctness.
Application: Scan verses by gaṇas (ja/ṭa etc.) to verify meter before public recitation; use as a teaching aid in chandas lessons.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Chandas / Prosody)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A prosody diagram shows gaṇas labeled ja and ṭa, with arrows mapping to Triṣṭubh and Anuṣṭubh; a teacher demonstrates syllable counting on a manuscript while students follow.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized classroom in temple precinct, large schematic of gaṇas (ja, ṭa) painted like yantra panels, teacher pointing with stylus, students seated, warm earthy palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, ornate manuscript and stylus foreground with gold highlights, inset panel showing gaṇa symbols ‘ja’ and ‘ṭa’, devotional border motifs, Puruṣa nameplate as devatā.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean instructional chart: gaṇa blocks, syllable marks, Triṣṭubh/Anuṣṭubh headings, teacher and students in calm setting, precise linework for didactic clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholar with counting beads and manuscript, marginal prosody chart with ‘ja’ and ‘ṭa’ in Devanagari, refined interior scene, delicate borders."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: त्रिष्टुप्छन्दः = त्रिष्टुप् + छन्दः; छन्दो ऽनुष्टुप् = छन्दः + अनुष्टुप्; अनुष्ठुव्द्वयोः = अनुष्टुप् + द्वयोः (पाठे ‘अनुष्ठुव्’ इति लेखदोषः); पुरुṣो ऽस्य = पुरुषः + अस्य; देषता इति पाठे ‘देवता’ अपेक्षिता
Related Themes: Agni Purana 295 (chandas/gaṇa discussion continuation)
FAQs
It teaches chandas-vidyā (Sanskrit prosody): identifying Triṣṭubh/Anuṣṭubh metre patterns via gaṇa labels (e.g., ja, ṭa) and the notion of an ‘uttara-gaṇa’ classification.
Beyond ritual and theology, the Agni Purana preserves technical śāstric material—here, the science of metres used in Vedic and classical composition—showing its role as a compendium spanning literary theory, grammar-adjacent metrics, and pedagogical mnemonics.
By correctly identifying and using sacred and classical metres (like Triṣṭubh), one preserves the accuracy of recitation and composition; such correctness is traditionally linked with maintaining śabda-śuddhi (purity of sound) and the intended efficacy/merit of hymns and praises.