141 - Description of herbs used in charms, medicines etc.

The Lord said:

1. Ishall describe the effect of the herbs arranged in 36 squares which were used by lords Brahma, Rudra and Indra and which if used make men immortals.

2-5. (They are)- haritaki, akshi, dhatri, marica, pippali, silpha, vahni, Sunthi, pippali, gudüchi, vacā, nimba, väsaka, Satamüli, saindhava, sindhu-vāraka, kantakari, gokshuraka, bilva, paunarnava, bala, erandamundi, ruchaka, bhruniga, kshåra, parpata, dhanyaka, jiraka, Šatapuspi, javánika, vidanga, khadira, krutamala, haridra, and siddhartha located in the 36 squares.

6-10. The herbs duly counted from one and placed in all squares are highly efficacious in curing ailments, making (men) immortal and cure wrinkles and baldness. Their crushed powder compounded and treated with mercury and used as an electuary with pieces of jaggery, honey or ghee or as an astringent or through the medium of ghee or oil taken by all would save their lives. One can take half a karsha¹ or one karsha or half a pala² or one pala and may live for 300 years although he may be pursuing an indisciplined way of life. There is no other combination more (efficacious) than this remedy reviving the dead.

1. One karsha is equal to 16 mashas where måsha stands for the weight of a kind of grain.

2. One pala is equal to 4 karsas.

11. One gets free from all diseases by the combination of the first nine (herbs). One gets free from aches by (the use of) second, third and fourth (herbs).

12. So also (one gets free from all diseases by the use of) six herbs from first to sixth as well as ninth.

13. One gets free from wind (affecting the body) by (the use of herbs) one to eight and from biles by agni (third) 'bhāskara (twelfth), twenty-sixth and twenty-seventh.

14. One gets cured of (deranged) phlegm by (the use of herbs) bāņa (fifth), rtu (sixth), saila (seventh) vasu (eighth) and tithi (fifteenth). (Herbs denoted by) veda (four), agni (three), bāņa (five) and six would be (efficacions) against (diseases caused by) charm.

15. One would get freed from all afflictions due to) planets and being possessed (by goblins) by (the due use of herbs denoted by) one, two, three, six, seven, eight, nine and eleven.

16. There is no doubt that they would also be cured by herbs denoted) by thirty-two, fifteen and twelve. This knowledge relating to thirty-six placesshould not be imparted to everyone.

Summary of chapter 141 of the Agni Purāṇa is as follows:

Thirty-six-part ritual diagrams (padaka-cakras) used in advanced pūjā for manifold divine powers are described. Agni explains how the thirty-six tattvas from Śiva down to the gross elements correspond to specific positions in the ritual grid. The practitioner meditates on each tattva-devatā while placing the appropriate dravya at its position in the padaka. The integrated padaka-pūjā thereby becomes a cosmic meditation in which the sādhaka worships the entire hierarchy of existence as an expression of the one divine reality.