Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 38
Tvaritā-pūjā (The Worship of Tvaritā) — Transition Verse and Context
त्रीणि त्रीणि प्रसार्येति वज्रमुद्रा प्रकीर्तिता प्रसार्या चेति ट दण्डः खड्गञ्चक्रगदा मुद्रा चाकारतः स्मृता
trīṇi trīṇi prasāryeti vajramudrā prakīrtitā prasāryā ceti ṭa daṇḍaḥ khaḍgañcakragadā mudrā cākārataḥ smṛtā
তিনটি করে আঙুল প্রসারিত করলে যে ভঙ্গি হয়, তাকে ‘বজ্রমুদ্রা’ বলা হয়েছে। ‘প্রসার্যা’ মুদ্রা দণ্ডাকার (ট-দণ্ড) রূপে স্মৃত; তদ্রূপ খড়্গ, চক্র ও গদার মুদ্রাও নিজ নিজ আকার অনুসারে পরিচিত।
Lord Agni (teaching ritual/tantric procedure to the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s instructional frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Hand-gesture (mudrā) specification for pūjā/nyāsa to seal mantras and visualize weapon-forms (āyudha) during worship.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Vajra-mudrā and Āyudha-mudrā shapes (daṇḍa, khaḍga, cakra, gadā)","lookup_keywords":["vajra-mudra","prasarya mudra","khadga-mudra","cakra-mudra","gada-mudra"],"quick_summary":"Defines how to form Vajra-mudrā by extending ‘three and three’ fingers, and notes that staff/sword/discus/mace mudrās are recognized by their characteristic shapes for ritual sealing."}
Weapon Type: Sword (khaḍga), discus (cakra), mace (gadā), staff (daṇḍa), vajra
Concept: Mudrā as a ‘seal’ (mudrā-bandha) that stabilizes mantra and visualization by embodying divine power through form.
Application: Use precise finger-extensions to avoid ritual error (doṣa) and to align gesture with intended deity/āyudha visualization.
Khanda Section: Tantra–Puja-vidhi (Mudrā-lakṣaṇa / ritual hand-gestures)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritualist’s hands forming Vajra-mudrā with ‘three and three’ fingers extended; adjacent schematic silhouettes of staff, sword, discus, and mace mudrās labeled by shape.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, warm mineral pigments, close-up of priest hands in vajra-mudra, stylized weapon emblems (daṇḍa, khaḍga, cakra, gadā) floating as yantric icons, flat decorative background, sacred geometry borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf highlights on weapon emblems, central hands in mudrā with ornate jewelry, embossed cakra and gadā motifs, rich red-green palette, temple arch framing.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, fine linework instructional plate: sequential hand-positions for vajra and prasāryā, annotated Sanskrit labels, soft pastel wash, minimal background.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, court-atelier precision: a sādhaka seated with manuscript, hands demonstrating mudrās; small inset panels showing staff/sword/discus/mace shapes; delicate floral margins."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: खड्गञ्चक्रगदा → खड्गम् + चक्रगदा (खड्गं च चक्रगदा); मुद्रा चाकारतः → मुद्रा + च + आकारतः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 309 (Mudrā-lakṣaṇa context); Agni Purana 310–311 (Tvaritā-sādhana: nyāsa/yantra usage where mudrās apply)
FAQs
It defines specific ritual mudrās—especially Vajra-mudrā as the act of extending ‘three and three’ fingers—and notes that other mudrās (staff, sword, discus, mace) are identified by their characteristic shapes used during pūjā/mantra-kriyā.
By cataloging precise, practice-oriented details of worship technology (mudrā-lakṣaṇa), it shows the Agni Purāṇa functioning as a manual that preserves ritual technique alongside its many other domains (iconography, mantra, dharma, polity, medicine, etc.).
Correct mudrā performance is traditionally held to ‘seal’ intention in worship, stabilize mantra-śakti, and remove procedural defects (doṣa) in ritual—thereby supporting purity (śuddhi) and the intended devotional fruit (phala).