Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 34
Tvaritā-pūjā (The Worship of Tvaritā) — Transition Verse and Context
ऊर्धन्तु कन्यसामध्ये सवीजान्तां विदुर्द्विजाः नियोज्य तर्जनीमध्ये ऽनेकलग्नां परस्पराम्
ūrdhantu kanyasāmadhye savījāntāṃ vidurdvijāḥ niyojya tarjanīmadhye 'nekalagnāṃ parasparām
দ্বিজেরা বলেন—আঙুলগুলি ঊর্ধ্বে তুলে কনিষ্ঠাকে মাঝখানে স্থাপন করবে এবং অগ্রভাগকে ‘বীজ’-সদৃশ মিলিত করবে। তারপর তর্জনীর মধ্যভাগে স্থাপন করে পরস্পর বহু স্পর্শবিন্দুতে জড়িয়ে যুক্ত করবে।
Lord Agni (instructional narration in the Agni Purana’s technical sections)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Detailed hand-formation for a ritual mudrā: interlinking fingers with bīja-like tip contact to ‘seal’ mantra and direct subtle currents during pūjā/nyāsa.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Interlinked bīja-contact mudrā (kanyasā placement and multi-contact joining)","lookup_keywords":["kanyasā","bīja","tārjanī","mudrā-bandha","paraspara-lagna"],"quick_summary":"Raise and arrange the fingers so the little finger is set into the middle and the tips meet like a bīja; then interlink by joining within the index-finger middles at multiple contact points to create a firm seal."}
Concept: Mudrā as ‘bandha’ (locking) and ‘bīja’ (seed) symbolism: physical interlinking mirrors consolidation of mantra into a single-pointed intention.
Application: Maintain symmetrical, stable contact points; treat the ‘bīja-contact’ as the moment of mental ekāgratā before nyāsa/japa proceeds.
Khanda Section: Tantra / Mudrā-vidhi (Hand-gestures in ritual and yogic practice)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Close-up instructional view of both hands forming an interlinked mudrā: little finger placed into the middle, fingertips meeting like a seed, then joined within the index fingers with multiple contact points.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural aesthetic, enlarged hands in foreground showing interlinked fingers, warm ochres and greens, subtle sacred geometry aura around fingertips meeting as bīja, minimal shrine backdrop.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, hands prominently centered with gold foil on fingertip contact points, bīja-like glow at the meeting tips, rich textile background, ritual vessels at the side.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean didactic depiction of finger positions, soft pastel palette, precise articulation of little finger placement and index-finger middle joining, calm studio-like background.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature close-up, finely rendered hands with henna-like detail, delicate shading, fingertips touching with a tiny luminous dot, patterned carpet background."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: kanyasāmadhye = kanyasā + madhye; savījāntām = sa + vīja + antām; vidurdvijāḥ = viduḥ + dvijāḥ; tarjanīmadhye = tarjanī + madhye; 'nekalagnām = aneka + lagnām (initial a- after avagraha).
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa 309 (mudrā-bandha descriptions; sequence context around Praṇītā/Bhedanī/Karālī)
FAQs
It gives a precise hand-configuration (mudrā) instruction: raising the fingers, positioning the little finger centrally, forming a bīja-like meeting of fingertips, and interlinking within the index-finger region with multiple contacts.
Beyond myth and devotion, the Agni Purana catalogues applied ritual technology—here, exact mudrā mechanics used alongside mantras, nyāsa, and worship procedures—showing its coverage of practical tantric/ritual method.
Mudrās are treated as embodied seals that stabilize mantra-power and intention in worship; performing the gesture correctly is understood to enhance ritual efficacy, focus, and purification through disciplined bodily alignment with sacred practice.