Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 44
Ayuta–Lakṣa–Koṭi Fire-offerings (अयुतलक्षकोटिहोमाः) — Graha-yajña Vidhi
छिन्द्यात् क्षुरेण प्रतिमां पिष्टरूपं रिपुं हनेत् यजेदेकं पीडकं वा यः स कृत्वा दिवं व्रजेत्
chindyāt kṣureṇa pratimāṃ piṣṭarūpaṃ ripuṃ hanet yajedekaṃ pīḍakaṃ vā yaḥ sa kṛtvā divaṃ vrajet
应以剃刀割断其像；由此便能击倒那以面团塑成之敌。凡修行此一一针对之供奉，或甚至行“pīḍaka”（压迫、加苦之法）者，既行毕，得至天界。
Lord Agni (in instruction to Sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purana’s standard narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Effigy-based abhicāra: crafting a dough effigy of the target and ritually cutting it with a razor as a symbolic strike; performing a focused single-target worship or pīḍaka rite.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Piṣṭa-pratimā chedana: razor-cut effigy rite and pīḍaka-karman","lookup_keywords":["pratimā","piṣṭa (dough)","kṣura (razor)","pīḍaka","abhicāra"],"quick_summary":"The rite prescribes making an enemy-effigy from dough and cutting it with a razor as the operative act; a concentrated single-target worship or pīḍaka (afflicting) rite is stated to yield merit (heaven) for the performer."}
Weapon Type: Razor (kṣura) as ritualized cutting implement (symbolic weapon)
Concept: Pratimā-kriyā as karma-sādhana: symbolic action (chedana) is treated as causally operative within ritual logic.
Application: Understanding pratimā as a ritual proxy and the importance of ekāgra (single-target) performance in prayoga.
Khanda Section: Abhichara-Karma and Pratima-Kriya (Tantric/ritual countermeasures and enemy-subjugation rites)
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A dough effigy shaped like a human lies on a ritual platform; the practitioner uses a razor to cut it as offerings and lamps burn nearby, indicating a targeted pīḍaka/abhicāra operation.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, dramatic fire-lit ritual room, dough effigy on a low altar, priest holding kṣura poised to cut, ritual vessels and lamps, strong raudra tones, stylized flames","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, gold-highlighted ritual implements, red cloth altar, dough effigy rendered clearly, priest with razor, ornate borders, sacred yet intense atmosphere","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, precise instructional depiction: effigy-making (piṣṭa), placement on altar, razor-cut action, minimal background, clear sequencing cues","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed tabletop with dough effigy, razor, incense, lamps, priest in profile performing the cut, fine textures and chiaroscuro"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: यजेदेकं → यजेत् + एकम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 167 (abhicāra sequences; kunda/dravya/mantra adjuncts)
FAQs
It gives an abhichāra-prayoga: preparing an enemy-effigy made of dough (piṣṭa-rūpa pratimā) and ritually cutting it with a razor as an operative act, along with a specified focused worship (eka-yāga) or pīḍana-type rite.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purana catalogs applied ritual technologies—here, image-based operative rites (pratimā-karman) used for coercion or destruction—showing its wide scope across mantra/ritual procedure, practical outcomes, and religious merit frameworks.
The verse explicitly frames the act as yielding a posthumous merit—“attains heaven”—indicating that, within this textual context, the rite is treated as a sanctioned sacrificial performance whose result is heavenly attainment.