Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 9
Worship by Limb-Syllables
Aṅgākṣara-arcana
हृदादिस्थानगान् वर्णान् गन्धपुष्पै समर्चयेत् धर्माद्यग्न्याद्यधर्मादि गात्रे पीठे ऽम्बुजे न्यसेत्
hṛdādisthānagān varṇān gandhapuṣpai samarcayet dharmādyagnyādyadharmādi gātre pīṭhe 'mbuje nyaset
হৃদয় আদি স্থানত অৱস্থিত বৰ্ণসমূহক গন্ধ আৰু পুষ্পেৰে বিধিপূৰ্বক অর্চনা কৰিব। তাৰ পিছত ধৰ্মাদি, অগ্ন্যাদি আৰু অধৰ্মাদি—ক্ৰমে দেহত, পীঠত আৰু পদ্মত ন্যাস কৰিব।
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Upacāra-pūjā to installed syllables (gandha, puṣpa) and further nyāsa of principle-sets (Dharma etc., Agni etc., Adharma etc.) onto body, pīṭha (seat), and padma (lotus/chakra), integrating ethical-cosmic categories into the ritual diagram.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Worship of Hṛdādi Varṇas and Nyāsa of Dharma–Agni–Adharma Sets on Gātra–Pīṭha–Padma","lookup_keywords":["gandha-pushpa","hrdadi","dharma-nyasa","pitha","padma"],"quick_summary":"After installing letters in inner loci, honor them with fragrance and flowers; then place structured principle-groups (Dharma/Agni/Adharma series) onto the body, the ritual seat, and the lotus diagram to complete the mandalic consecration."}
Concept: Ritual cosmology: abstract categories (dharma/adharma and elemental/fiery series) are ‘located’ (nyasta) in a structured space (body–seat–lotus), making ethics and cosmos operational in worship.
Application: Treat offerings (gandha/puṣpa) as honoring installed powers, not mere decoration; keep a consistent mapping of principle-sets to zones (gātra/pīṭha/padma) for stable visualization.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Tantric Nyasa and Chakra/Padma placement)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"An altar with a lotus-diagram (padma) on a pīṭha; the sādhaka offers flowers and fragrance to glowing syllables at heart-and-other loci, then places labeled principle-energies (Dharma/Agni/Adharma series) onto body, seat, and lotus petals.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, large stylized lotus mandala on a pedestal, sādhaka offering flowers, visible fragrance curls, petals inscribed with principle names, warm earthy palette with bright whites for syllable-glow.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, lotus mandala with gold leaf petals, thick floral offerings, deity presence implied, embossed labels for Dharma/Agni/Adharma sets, ornate pīṭha base highlighted in gold.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional mandala diagram with pīṭha and padma clearly separated, arrows showing nyāsa placement zones (gātra/pīṭha/padma), gentle colors and precise glyphs.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, top-down view of lotus diagram on a low platform, attendant details of flowers and perfume vessel, fine calligraphy-like labels on petals, subdued luminous syllables at the sādhaka’s chest."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Shree","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: हृदादिस्थानगान् = हृदादि-स्थानगान्; गन्धपुष्पै = गन्धपुष्पैः; धर्माद्यग्न्याद्यधर्मादि = धर्मादि अग्न्यादि अधर्मादि (आदि-शब्दस्य लोप/संयोग; य्-आगम); पीठे ऽम्बुजे = पीठे अम्बुजे.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 302.7; Agni Purana 302.8; Agni Purana 302.10
FAQs
It teaches internal worship through varṇa-pūjā (honoring mantra-syllables in heart and related loci) and performing nyāsa—ritually installing categorized principles (Dharma/Agni/Adharma groups) on the body, the pīṭha, and the lotus (padma/chakra).
It preserves a concise, technical layer of tantric ritual practice—mantra-syllable worship and nyāsa mapping onto body/seat/lotus—showing that the Agni Purana functions not only as narrative scripture but also as a manual of applied liturgy and esoteric praxis.
By sanctifying the practitioner’s body and worship-space through nyāsa and mantra-syllable reverence, the rite is understood to purify intention and action, align the worshipper with dharmic order, and render the internal and external altar fit for successful mantra-sādhana.