Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 30
Tvaritā-pūjā (The Worship of Tvaritā) — Transition Verse and Context
आदिवीजं न्यसेन्मन्त्री तर्जन्यादि पुनः पुनः ऊर्धं सोममधः पद्मं शरीरं वीजविग्रहं
ādivījaṃ nyasenmantrī tarjanyādi punaḥ punaḥ ūrdhaṃ somamadhaḥ padmaṃ śarīraṃ vījavigrahaṃ
على المانتري أن يكرّر وضع النْياسا للبيجا الأزلية، مبتدئًا بالسبّابة ثم سائر الأصابع. وليتخيّل القمر في الأعلى، واللوتس في الأسفل، والجسد نفسه هيئةً متجسّدة للبيجا (مانترا البذرة).
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in ritual procedure, per the Agni Purāṇa’s common dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Perform bīja-nyāsa on fingers (starting with index) and stabilize mantra-śarīra bhāvanā: moon above, lotus below, body as bīja-vigraha for japa and protection.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Ādibīja-aṅguli-nyāsa and bīja-vigraha-dhyāna (Soma ūrdhva, Padma adhaḥ)","lookup_keywords":["nyāsa","ādibīja","aṅguli","soma","padma"],"quick_summary":"Repeat placement of the primordial seed-mantra on the fingers, then visualize a lunar sphere above and a lotus below, recognizing the body itself as the embodied form of the bīja to empower mantra-practice."}
Alamkara Type: Lakṣaṇā/Upacāra (body ‘as’ bīja-vigraha)
Concept: Deha as mantra-mūrti: the practitioner’s body is sacralized as the locus of mantra, integrating speech-power with embodiment.
Application: Before japa, do finger-nyāsa to anchor attention; maintain Soma–Padma axis to reduce mental scattering and deepen mantra-identification.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Mantra-nyasa and Tantric visualization (Mantra-shastra)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Close view of hands performing finger-nyāsa; above the sādhaka’s head a glowing moon-disc, below a lotus pedestal; the body subtly inscribed with bīja syllables as radiant marks.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, prominent hands with inter-finger markings, moon-disc above crown, lotus below seat, bīja syllables as stylized script motifs, warm earthy background.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-leaf moon halo above, lotus throne with gold embossing, hands in foreground with jewel-like highlights, bīja letters in decorative script.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore, instructional composition: sequential finger placements shown with small inset panels, central figure with moon above and lotus below, clean lines and soft tones.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined hands and rosary, moon-disc rendered as pale wash, lotus as delicate botanical motif, bīja letters as fine calligraphy around the figure."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: न्यसेन्मन्त्री = न्यसेत् + मन्त्री (t/d sandhi); सोममधः = सोमम् + अधः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 309 (nyāsa and dhyāna instructions contiguous)
FAQs
It teaches bīja-mantra nyāsa—ritually “placing” the seed-syllable on the fingers (starting with the index finger) and reinforcing it through repeated application, along with a prescribed visualization (Moon above, lotus below).
Beyond mythology, it preserves practical ritual technology—nyāsa, bīja-mantra usage, and structured visualization—showing the Agni Purāṇa’s coverage of applied mantra-śāstra and pūjā-vidhi alongside its many other disciplines.
Nyāsa and visualization sacralize the practitioner’s body as a mantra-body (bīja-vigraha), aiming at purification, steadiness of mind, and effective mantra-siddhi through disciplined, repeated ritual internalization.