Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 57
Chapter 24 — कुण्डनिर्माणादिविधिः
Procedure for Constructing the Fire-pit and Related Rites
तज्जपन्तञ्च तर्जन्या मण्डलस्थं विसर्जयेत्
tajjapantañca tarjanyā maṇḍalasthaṃ visarjayet
وأثناء تلاوة تلك المانترا، ينبغي بالإصبع السبّابة أن يُصرَف (يُطلَق) ما وُضع داخل الماندالا (maṇḍala).
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in ritual procedure)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Mantra-japa with mudrā/gesture: using the index finger (tarjanī) to ritually dismiss (visarjana) a deity/energy/nyāsa element placed in a maṇḍala at the conclusion or transition of a rite.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Maṇḍala-stha visarjana with tarjanī during mantra-japa","lookup_keywords":["japa","tarjanī","maṇḍala","visarjana","mudrā"],"quick_summary":"During mantra recitation, perform a formal dismissal of the invoked presence/placement within the maṇḍala using the tarjanī gesture, ensuring proper closure and containment of the ritual act."}
Concept: Ritual completeness (pūrṇatā) requires proper visarjana; mudrā and mantra act together to regulate invocation and withdrawal.
Application: After japa/āvāhana-related acts, perform explicit visarjana with the prescribed gesture to avoid ‘unfinished’ ritual states and to transition safely to concluding rites.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Mantra-japa and Mudra-prayoga (Ritual Procedure)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual maṇḍala is drawn on the floor; the practitioner chants while extending the index finger in a precise gesture to dismiss the invoked presence from the maṇḍala, with lamps and offerings nearby.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, geometric maṇḍala on floor, priest/guru in profile with tarjanī raised, stylized lamps and offering plates, strong outlines and sacred symmetry","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold accents on lamps and vessels, central maṇḍala with ornate borders, priest’s hand gesture emphasized, rich reds and greens, devotional ritual interior","mysore_prompt":"Mysore, technical depiction: clear maṇḍala lines, close-up emphasis on tarjanī mudrā, calm instructional scene with minimal background clutter","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed floor pattern maṇḍala, fine rendering of hand gesture, attendants and ritual items, delicate shading and architectural framing"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तज्जपन्तञ्च→तत् + जपन्तम् + च.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 24.56
FAQs
It teaches the ritual “visarjana” (dismissal/concluding release) performed during mantra-japa, specifically using the tarjanī (index finger) to dismiss what is established in the maṇḍala.
Beyond mythology, the Agni Purana preserves practical liturgical micro-instructions—how to use gestures (mudrā), maṇḍalas, and concluding rites—showing it functions as a manual of applied ritual technology.
Visarjana properly “closes” the rite, preventing ritual incompleteness; it signifies respectful release of invoked energies/deities and supports purity, order, and the intended merit (puṇya) of the practice.