Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 40
Explanation of the Vāsudeva and Related Mantras (वासुदेवादिमन्त्रनिरूपणम्)
अङ्गुष्ठादौ तले द्वौ च पादे जानुनि वै कटौ शिरःशिखरकट्याञ्च जानुपादादिषु न्यसेत्
aṅguṣṭhādau tale dvau ca pāde jānuni vai kaṭau śiraḥśikharakaṭyāñca jānupādādiṣu nyaset
ابتداءً من الإبهام وما يليه، تُوضَع (المانترا) على راحتي اليدين كلتيهما؛ وكذلك على القدمين، وعلى الركبتين، وعلى الخصر؛ وأيضًا على الرأس، وعلى الشِّخا (خصلة القِمّة)، وعلى الوركين—وهكذا تُؤدَّى النْياسا على الأعضاء المعيّنة.
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in ritual procedure)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Anga-nyasa mapping: place mantras on specified limbs (thumb onward, palms, feet, knees, waist, head, shikha, hips) to consecrate the body as a mantra-mandala for worship and protection.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Anga-nyasa limb sequence (thumb, palms, feet, knees, waist, head, shikha, hips)","lookup_keywords":["anga-nyasa","thumb","palms","shikha","limb-placement"],"quick_summary":"A procedural list of body locations for nyasa; correct placement order stabilizes ritual precision and is used before/within mantra-japa and deity-invocation."}
Concept: Body as a structured locus for mantra (nyasa turns limbs into sacred seats of power).
Application: Follow consistent limb-order to reduce distraction, enhance dharana, and maintain ritual correctness across daily puja.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Nyasa-vidhi (Tantric ritual placement of mantras)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Diagram-like ritual scene showing a practitioner touching thumb, palms, feet, knees, waist, head, shikha, and hips in sequence as mantra placements.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, frontal seated practitioner, clear hand gestures to thumb and palms, stylized body with highlighted limb points, oil lamp and temple wall motifs, bold outlines","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, worshipper with ornate jewelry and sacred thread, gold-highlighted limb points (thumb/palms/head/shikha), temple arch and lotus motifs, rich gilding","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style instructional plate: elegant figure with annotated limb points (thumb, palms, feet, knees, waist, head, shikha, hips), soft shading, clean composition","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, physician-like precision but ritual context: a pandit demonstrating nyasa to a disciple, limb points subtly emphasized, fine textiles and manuscript-like margins"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अङ्गुष्ठादौ = अङ्गुष्ठ-आदि (तत्पुरुष) + सप्तमी एकवचन; शिरःशिखरकट्याञ्च→शिरः शिखर कट्याम् च; जानुपादादिषु→जानु पाद आदि-षु; (ततः sandhi not present here).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 25.39 (Vishnu-nama-nyasa); Agni Purana 25.43 (bhuta-nyasa; ten placements from thumb)
FAQs
It teaches nyāsa: the systematic placement/assignment of mantras onto specific body parts (palms, feet, knees, waist/hips, head and śikhā) as part of mantra-pūjā and protective consecration (aṅga/kara/pāda-nyāsa).
Beyond mythology, it preserves practical liturgical technology—precise bodily locations and sequencing for mantra-installation—showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of applied ritual science alongside other domains like polity, medicine, and arts.
Nyāsa is intended to sacralize the practitioner’s body as a fit vessel for worship, strengthen mantra-efficacy, and provide ritual purification and protective merit by aligning speech, mind, and body with the invoked deity/power.