The Agni Purana Pt. 2 (AITM Vol. 28): Ancient Indian Tradition And Mythology

The Agni Purana, like most of the other Puranas, is of an encyclopedic character. Like the parts, this part also contains topics of diverse nature, as a glance through the contents will show. They include the art of wielding common weapons like swords, mace, etc., judicature, settlement of civil disputes and criminal proceedings against offenders, the use of Vedic hymns for accomplishing specific secular and religious purposes, observances for averting bad effects of portents and planets, modes of worshipping various deities, description of the recensions of the Vedas, merits accruing from making gifts of Puranas, etc. Several chapters are devoted to the description of Solar, Lunar, and other royal dynasties. There is a lot of material of medical interest. In addition to human diseases and their treatment by herbs and sacred formulas those of horses and elephants are also discussed and remedies prescribed for their cure: Different kinds of snakes, medical treatment for their bites, the use of herbs, and incantations to remove their poison are taken up at length. In brief, the reader will find a wide range of interesting and useful material therein.