Dhanvantari was the physician of the gods and he taught Sushruta the art of ayurveda (medicine). The Agni Purana now describes what the sage Sushruta had learnt, that is, the treatment for various diseases. This does not simply mean the treatment of human illnesses. There is a section known as…
Brahma was born from Vishnu’s navel. Brahma’s son was Mariachi, Marichi’s son Kashyapa and Kakshyapa’s son Vivasvan. From this line was descended Pururava and Pururavas descendants were the kings of the surya (solar) dynasty. Brahma also had a son named Atari and Atari had a son named Soma. Soma performed…
What happens to a person’s debts when he dies? If he does not have any sons, the person who inherits the property also inherits the debts and had to pay them off. If there is a son, the son pays the debts off. But a woman is not to be…
The Agni Purana now describes the benefits of giving alms along with the Puranas. The Puranas are to be donated together with cows. And in talking of the mahaPuranas, the Agni Purana also mentions most of their length, in terms of the number of shlokas (couplets) that each has. This…
The section on Dhanurveda is on arms and weapons. There are five types of weapons that are used in war. The first category is that of yantramukta weapons, released from a machine (yantra). This machine may be a launcher or even a bow. The second category is that of panimukta…
Rama had once taught Lakshmana about the duties of a king. The Agni Purana now relates these precepts of Rama’s. The duties of king are fourfold. Firstly, he has to earn wealth. Secondly, he has to increase it. Thirdly, he has to protect it. And fourthly and finally, he has…
