Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 22
Rudra-śānti (रुद्रशान्ति)
मारणोच्चाटनादीनि विषुवे पञ्चधा पृथक् अधरस्य गृहे पृथ्वी ऊर्ध्वे तेजो ऽन्तरा द्रवः
māraṇoccāṭanādīni viṣuve pañcadhā pṛthak adharasya gṛhe pṛthvī ūrdhve tejo 'ntarā dravaḥ
如杀害（māraṇa）、驱逐（uccāṭana）等诸作法，应于“viṣuva”（昼夜平分之时、春秋分）分作五类而各别安置。下方之“宫室/区位”为地；其上为火；中间为流质之元素，即水。
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha, standard Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Cosmology","practical_application":"Timing and spatial/elemental partitioning of intense rites (māraṇa, uccāṭana, etc.) using viṣuva and a fivefold scheme aligned to bhūta-regions.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Viṣuva-Kāla: Pañcadhā Karma-Vibhāga & Bhūta-Gṛha Placement","lookup_keywords":["viṣuva","māraṇa","uccāṭana","pañcadhā","bhūta-gṛha"],"quick_summary":"Prescribes that aggressive rites be organized at viṣuva with a fivefold division, mapping elemental ‘houses’: Earth below, Fire above, and Water in the middle (with remaining elements implied by the fivefold scheme)."}
Concept: Ritual efficacy is conditioned by kāla (viṣuva) and by bhūta-nyāsa (elemental spatial ordering).
Application: When planning high-intensity prayogas, align the rite with prescribed temporal nodes and maintain correct elemental placement to stabilize the operation.
Khanda Section: Tantra-Mantra and Ritual Applications (Abhichāra-Karma / Protective & Aggressive Rites)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A vertical cosmogram/maṇḍala showing ‘houses’ or tiers: Earth at the bottom, Water in the middle, Fire at the top; a side panel notes viṣuva timing and fivefold division for māraṇa/uccāṭana rites.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, tiered cosmic diagram with bhūtas personified, earth-brown base, blue water band mid, red fire crown, priest marking viṣuva on a palm-leaf almanac, sacred lamps and kalasha nearby.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, gold-embellished tiered yantra with bhūta bands, ornate frame, viṣuva indicated by sun motif at center, ritual implements in foreground, rich reds and blues with gold highlights.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore instructional plate: labeled tiers ‘pṛthvī-adhaḥ’, ‘jala-madhya’, ‘tejas-ūrdhva’, with a margin note ‘viṣuve pañcadhā’; clean lines, muted palette, didactic clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, astrologer-priest consulting a zij-like chart for viṣuva while assistants arrange a three-tier altar representing earth-water-fire; fine architectural interior, delicate calligraphy labels."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: मारणोच्चाटनादीनि = मारण + उच्चाटन + आदीनि; तेजो ऽन्तरा = तेजः + अन्तरा.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 324 (abhichāra-karmas and elemental/maṇḍala correspondences); Agni Purana 325 (mantra-dhyāna and ritual means like homa)
FAQs
It outlines a technical classification of abhichāra-type rites (e.g., māraṇa, uccāṭana) into a fivefold scheme tied to viṣuva timing, and gives an elemental placement rule (Earth below, Fire above, Fluid in the middle) for arranging the ritual locus/diagram.
It preserves specialized operational details—ritual taxonomy, calendrical timing (equinox), and elemental spatial mapping—showing how the Agni Purana compiles practical manuals alongside theology, making it a multi-disciplinary reference text.
By prescribing correct timing and elemental placement, the text implies that ritual efficacy and karmic consequences depend on precise alignment with cosmic order; misapplication of hostile rites is traditionally considered spiritually hazardous and karmically binding.