Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 35
Tvaritā-pūjā (The Worship of Tvaritā) — Transition Verse and Context
ज्येष्टाग्रं निक्षिपेन्मध्ये भेदनी सा प्रकीर्तिता नाभिदेशे तु तां बद्ध्वा अङ्गुष्ठावुत्क्षिपेत्ततः
jyeṣṭāgraṃ nikṣipenmadhye bhedanī sā prakīrtitā nābhideśe tu tāṃ baddhvā aṅguṣṭhāvutkṣipettataḥ
إن وضع طرف السَّبّابة في الوسط (من هيئة اليد) يُعلَن أنه المودرا المسماة «بِهدَني» (Bhedanī). وبعد تثبيتها عند موضع السُّرّة، تُرفَع الإبهامان إلى أعلى.
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Yoga","practical_application":"Performance of Bhedanī-mudrā with locus at nābhi (navel) and subsequent thumb-raising; used to ‘pierce/open’ subtle knots and regulate prāṇa during mantra-sādhana.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Bhedanī-mudrā (nābhi-sthāna with thumb-raising)","lookup_keywords":["Bhedanī","mudrā","nābhi","aṅguṣṭha-utkṣepa","bandha"],"quick_summary":"Form Bhedanī by placing the tip of the index finger into the middle of the formation; hold it at the navel-region and then raise the thumbs upward to complete the seal."}
Concept: Nābhi as a key prāṇic hub; ‘bhedana’ implies controlled opening/piercing of obstruction through coordinated gesture and attention.
Application: While holding the mudrā at the navel, synchronize with steady breathing and mantra-japa to stabilize the ‘center’ (madhya) and reduce mental dispersion.
Khanda Section: Yoga & Tantra (Mudrā–Bandha / Subtle-body techniques)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A seated sādhaka forms Bhedanī with hands held at the navel; thumbs lifted upward, with a subtle lotus or wheel motif at the nābhi indicating the energetic center.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, sādhaka in padmāsana, hands at nābhi with thumbs raised, stylized nābhi-lotus in muted gold, temple lamp glow, earthy palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, ornate gold work highlighting the nābhi-lotus and raised thumbs, rich maroon background, jewelry and sacred thread, crisp gesture emphasis.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear instructional rendering of Bhedanī finger placement, gentle gradients, visible nābhi focus point, minimal distractions.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, sādhaka on a terrace with fine textiles, hands at abdomen with thumbs up, delicate circular motif at navel, soft sky wash."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: nikṣipenmadhye = nikṣipet + madhye; nābhideśe = nābhi + deśe; aṅguṣṭhāvutkṣipet = aṅguṣṭhau + utkṣipet.
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa 309 (mudrā names and their body-loci: hṛdaya, nābhi, maṇibandha)
FAQs
It teaches the formation and application of the Bhedanī Mudrā: positioning the index fingertip centrally, holding the gesture at the navel region, and then lifting the thumbs—an applied yogic/tantric hand-seal practice.
Beyond myth and devotion, the Agni Purana preserves practical technical material—here, a precise yogic mudrā procedure—showing its coverage of embodied disciplines (tantra/yoga) alongside ritual, polity, medicine, and arts.
Mudrā practice is traditionally held to regulate prāṇa and focus the mind; fixing the gesture at the navel (a key prāṇic center) is intended to support inner steadiness and purification through disciplined bodily control.