Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 34
Explanation of the Vāsudeva and Related Mantras (वासुदेवादिमन्त्रनिरूपणम्)
अङ्गुष्ठकद्वये वह्निस्तर्जन्यादौ परेषु च शिरोललाटवक्त्रेषु हृन्नाभिगुह्यजानुषु
aṅguṣṭhakadvaye vahnistarjanyādau pareṣu ca śirolalāṭavaktreṣu hṛnnābhiguhyajānuṣu
উভয় বৃদ্ধাঙ্গুষ্ঠে ‘বহ্নি’ মন্ত্রতত্ত্বের ন্যাস করিবে; তর্জনী হইতে আরম্ভ করিয়া অন্যান্য আঙুলিতেও ক্রমে স্থাপন করিবে। পরে মস্তক, ললাট, মুখ, হৃদয়, নাভি, গুপ্তদেশ ও জানুতে ন্যাস করিবে।
Lord Agni (traditionally instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in Agni Purana’s ritual-technical sections)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Mantra-nyāsa for ritual purification and deity-identification by placing the Vahni-bīja/tattva on specific fingers and bodily loci before japa or pūjā.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Vahni-tattva Nyāsa on Fingers and Body (Aṅga-nyāsa)","lookup_keywords":["nyāsa","vahni","aṅguṣṭha","aṅga-nyāsa","mudrā"],"quick_summary":"Place the fire principle/mantra on both thumbs, then on the remaining fingers, and further on head/forehead/face and core bodily centers (heart, navel, genitals, knees) to consecrate the body as a mantra-seat."}
Concept: Deha as mantra-mandala: bodily loci become seats of tattva/bīja through nyāsa.
Application: Use as a preparatory limb (aṅga) before japa, homa, or pūjā to stabilize attention and sacralize the practitioner’s body.
Khanda Section: Yoga–Tantra / Nyasa–Mudra (Mantra-nyasa and bodily placements)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A seated sādhaka performs kara-nyāsa: touching thumbs, fingers, then head, forehead, face, heart, navel, genitals, and knees, with a subtle flame aura indicating Vahni-tattva.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat bold colors, seated yogi-sādhaka with sacred thread, hands in nyāsa gestures touching thumbs and fingers, stylized flame halo (vahni) around hands and torso, minimal background, traditional ornament borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, rich gold leaf highlights on flame motifs and jewelry, sādhaka seated on lotus pedestal, hands touching thumbs/fingers in sequence, glowing heart and navel centers marked with gold, temple lamp in background.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, delicate linework, instructional composition showing numbered finger placements and body points (head, forehead, face, heart, navel, genitals, knees), soft pastel palette, calm devotional ambience.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, fine detailing of hands and anatomy points, sādhaka in a pavilion, attendants holding manuscript, subtle flame iconography near thumbs and heart, annotated margins suggesting nyāsa sequence."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अङ्गुष्ठकद्वये = अङ्गुष्ठक-द्वये; वahnistarjanyādau = वह्निः तर्जनी-आदौ; शिरोललाटवक्त्रेषु = शिरः-ललाट-वक्त्रेषु; हृन्नाभिगुह्यजानुषु = हृत्-नाभि-गुह्य-जानुषु.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 25 (Nyāsa–Mudrā context); Agni Purana mantra-nyāsa/aṅga-nyāsa sections nearby
FAQs
It teaches nyāsa—ritually “installing” the Vahni/Agni mantra or fire-principle onto specific bodily points (thumbs, fingers, head/forehead/face, heart, navel, genital region, knees) as part of kara-nyāsa and aṅga-nyāsa.
Beyond mythology, it preserves precise, procedural ritual technology—mapping mantras onto anatomy—showing the Purana’s coverage of tantric-puja methods alongside many other sciences.
Nyāsa sacralizes the practitioner’s body as a mantra-field, aiming at purification, ritual efficacy (siddhi of the rite), and focused devotional concentration by internalizing the deity’s presence.