Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 36
Tvaritā-pūjā (The Worship of Tvaritā) — Transition Verse and Context
कराली तु महामुद्रा हृदये योज्य मन्त्रिणः पुनस्तु पूर्ववद् बद्धलग्नां ज्येष्ठां समुत्क्षिपेत्
karālī tu mahāmudrā hṛdaye yojya mantriṇaḥ punastu pūrvavad baddhalagnāṃ jyeṣṭhāṃ samutkṣipet
«كارالي» هي «المودرا العظمى»؛ وعلى المشتغل بالمانترا أن يطبقها عند القلب. ثم مرة أخرى كما سبق، بعد ربطها وتثبيتها، يرفع «جييشثا» (Jyeṣṭhā) إلى أعلى.
Lord Agni (traditionally instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s ritual/vidyā sections)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Application of Karālī Mahāmudrā at the heart for mantra-sādhana, followed by raising the Jyeṣṭhā mudrā as in the prior method—sequenced sealing to empower invocation and protection.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Karālī Mahāmudrā (hṛdaya-nyāsa) with Jyeṣṭhā-utkṣepa","lookup_keywords":["Karālī","Mahāmudrā","hṛdaya","Jyeṣṭhā","mantrin"],"quick_summary":"Karālī is taught as a Mahāmudrā to be applied at the heart by the mantra-practitioner; then, repeating the earlier binding method, one raises the Jyeṣṭhā mudrā to complete the sequence."}
Concept: Hṛdaya as the principal ‘seat’ for mantra-devatā; ‘mahā’ mudrā indicates a comprehensive seal integrating intention, breath, and bodily locus.
Application: Use Karālī at the heart during key moments (āvāhana, kavaca, japa-sankalpa), then perform the follow-up raising gesture to ‘lock’ the rite and maintain inner steadiness.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Tantra (Mudra-vidhi in Mantra-sadhana)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A mantra-practitioner presses the Karālī Mahāmudrā at the heart, then transitions to an upward-raising gesture (Jyeṣṭhā), with a protective aura forming around the chest.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, sādhaka with pronounced heart-lotus glow, hands at chest in Karālī, then one hand raised in follow-up, bold outlines, sacred flame motif behind.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold foil heart-lotus and aura, richly ornamented sādhaka, clear depiction of mudrā at hṛdaya, subsequent raised gesture, temple arch framing.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, stepwise instructional composition (two poses in one frame), soft colors, emphasis on hand positions at heart and raised Jyeṣṭhā, serene shrine interior.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, elegant figure in prayer hall, luminous wash at chest, subtle depiction of sequential gesture, fine textile and architectural detail."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Shree","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: mahāmudrā = mahā + mudrā; baddhalagnām = baddha + lagnām.
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa 309 (Karālī, Jyeṣṭhā and other mudrā-bandhas in sequence)
FAQs
It teaches a specific mudrā-sequence in mantra-practice: apply the Karālī Mahāmudrā at the heart-region, then (as previously instructed) bind/fix the gesture and raise the Jyeṣṭhā mudrā.
Beyond myths and theology, the Agni Purana preserves practical ritual technology—named tantric mudrās, their placement (heart-center), and procedural cues (bind, fix, raise)—showing its coverage of detailed liturgical and esoteric techniques.
Mudrās function as ‘seals’ that stabilize mantra-energy and focus the practitioner’s intention; placing the principal mudrā at the heart aligns devotion and inner concentration, supporting purity, efficacy of japa/ritual, and disciplined spiritual practice.