Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 7
Sāma-vidhāna
Procedure of the Sāman Hymns
मणिं जातस्य बालस्य वध्नीयात्तदनन्तरं सोमं राजानमेतेन व्याधिभिर्विप्रमुच्यते वैष्णवी शान्तिरैन्द्री च ब्राह्मी रौद्री तथैव च वायव्या वारुणी चैव कौवेरी भार्गवी तथा
maṇiṃ jātasya bālasya vadhnīyāttadanantaraṃ somaṃ rājānametena vyādhibhirvipramucyate vaiṣṇavī śāntiraindrī ca brāhmī raudrī tathaiva ca vāyavyā vāruṇī caiva kauverī bhārgavī tathā
随即应为新生婴儿系上护身宝珠（护符）。凭此并祈请苏摩王（Soma，即月神），便能彻底解脱诸病。其息灾法为：毗湿奴女神法（Vaiṣṇavī）、因陀罗女神法（Aindrī）、梵天女神法（Brāhmī）、鲁陀罗女神法（Raudrī）、风神法（Vāyavyā）、伐楼那法（Vāruṇī）、俱毗罗法（Kauverī），以及婆尔伽瓦法（Bhārgavī）。
Lord Agni (teaching sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Bāla-rakṣā: tying a maṇi (amulet) to a newborn and invoking Soma; enumerating specific śānti-types for targeted protection.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Bāla-rakṣā Maṇi-bandhana and Soma-invocation; Eight Śāntis","lookup_keywords":["bāla-rakṣā","maṇi-bandhana","Soma rājā","Vaiṣṇavī śānti","Aindrī Brāhmī Raudrī"],"quick_summary":"Tie a protective gem on the newborn and invoke Soma for freedom from diseases; the verse lists key śānti categories (Vaiṣṇavī through Bhārgavī) used in pacificatory protection."}
Concept: Rakṣā as a dharmic duty toward the newborn; deva-śānti as harmonization with cosmic powers (Soma and dikpāla/devatā śāntis).
Application: Apply categorized śāntis as a modular system—selecting devatā-specific pacifications for infant well-being.
Khanda Section: Garbha-saṃskāra & Bāla-rakṣā (Protective rites for newborns; Mantra-śānti section)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vatsalya
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A newborn is gently adorned with a protective gem-amulet; the priest/elder invokes Soma while enumerating devatā-śāntis for protection.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: mother with newborn, amulet tied on the infant’s arm/waist, priest chanting with palm-leaf manuscript, a luminous Soma-mandala above, calm protective aura.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: central baby with jeweled amulet, gold haloed Soma above, surrounding small icons representing Vaiṣṇavī, Aindrī, Brāhmī, Raudrī, Vāyavyā, Vāruṇī, Kauverī, Bhārgavī, ornate borders and gold work.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: instructional domestic rite—close-up of amulet-tying, priest seated with ritual items, subtle moon disc indicating Soma, clean composition.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: indoor zenana scene, attendants, infant on cloth, elder tying amulet, moonlight through jali window symbolizing Soma, fine detailing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"protective","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: vadhnīyāttadanantaraṃ → vadhnīyāt tad anantaram; rājānametena → rājānam etena; vyādhibhirvipramucyate → vyādhibhiḥ vipramucyate; śāntiraindrī → śāntiḥ aindrī; tathaiva → tathā eva; caiva → ca eva.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 260 (Garbha-saṃskāra, bāla-rakṣā, śānti lists)
FAQs
It prescribes a bāla-rakṣā procedure: tying a protective gem/amulet to a newborn and performing/reciting Soma-centered and deity-specific śānti (pacificatory) invocations to ward off disease.
Alongside theology, the Agni Purana preserves practical household and health-oriented rites—newborn protection, disease-averting śānti practices, and the cataloging of deity-specific pacifications—showing its coverage of ritual, wellbeing, and applied Dharma.
The act functions as a śānti-karma: it ritually harmonizes adverse influences (graha/devatā-doṣa) around birth, seeking divine protection and purification so the child’s life-force and health remain unobstructed.