Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 1
सकलादिमन्त्रोद्धारः (Sakalādi-mantra-uddhāra) — Chapter Colophon/Transition
इत्य् आग्नेये महापुराणे सकलादिमन्त्रोद्धारो नाम षोडशाधिकत्रिशततमो ऽध्यायः अथ सप्तदशाधिकत्रिशततमो ऽध्यायः गणपूजा इश्वर उवाच विश्वरूपं समुद्धृत्य तेजस्युपरि संस्थितम् नरसिंहं ततो ऽधस्तात् कृतान्तं तदधो न्यसेत्
ity āgneye mahāpurāṇe sakalādimantroddhāro nāma ṣoḍaśādhikatriśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ atha saptadaśādhikatriśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ gaṇapūjā iśvara uvāca viśvarūpaṃ samuddhṛtya tejasyupari saṃsthitam narasiṃhaṃ tato 'dhastāt kṛtāntaṃ tadadho nyaset
এভাবে অগ্নি-মহাপুরাণে ‘সকলাদি-মন্ত্রোদ্ধার’ নামক তিনশো সতেরোতম অধ্যায় সমাপ্ত। এখন তিনশো আঠারোতম অধ্যায় ‘গণপূজা’ আরম্ভ। ঈশ্বর বললেন—‘বিশ্বরূপকে উত্তোলন করে তেজের উপর প্রতিষ্ঠা কর; তারপর তার নীচে নরসিংহকে স্থাপন কর; এবং তারও নীচে কৃতান্ত (যম/মৃত্যু)কে ন্যস্ত কর।’
Īśvara (Śiva) instructing ritual placement (nyāsa) for Gaṇa-pūjā
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Ritual placement (nyāsa/āvaraṇa-krama) for Gaṇapūjā: installing Viśvarūpa above Tejas, then Narasiṃha below, then Kṛtānta beneath—used to structure protective cosmography and hierarchy in worship.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Gaṇapūjā Nyāsa: Viśvarūpa over Tejas; Narasiṃha; Kṛtānta Below","lookup_keywords":["Gaṇapūjā","Viśvarūpa","Tejas","Narasiṃha","Kṛtānta"],"quick_summary":"Begins the Gaṇapūjā chapter and gives a vertical installation order: raise and place Viśvarūpa above the sphere of Tejas, place Narasiṃha beneath, and set Kṛtānta (Yama) below that as a stabilizing/guarding layer."}
Concept: Layered guardianship and cosmic ordering in worship: radiance (tejas) crowned by Viśvarūpa, protected by Narasiṃha, grounded by Kṛtānta as the boundary of mortality.
Application: In maṇḍala visualization or altar arrangement, use the prescribed vertical order to create a protective, stable ritual field before invoking gaṇas and proceeding with offerings.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Tantric/Mantra-nyasa and Ganapujā procedures)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A vertical cosmogram/maṇḍala: a radiant Tejas zone with Viśvarūpa enthroned above it, Narasiṃha stationed below as fierce protector, and Kṛtānta/Yama at the base as the underlayer; priests preparing Gaṇapūjā implements nearby.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stacked registers: bottom Yama/Kṛtānta dark yet dignified, middle Narasiṃha roaring with protective aura, top Viśvarūpa luminous above a flame-like Tejas band; bold outlines, flat colors, temple mural framing.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, tiered composition with gold-leaf Tejas flames, Viśvarūpa at top with expansive halo, Narasiṃha in mid-tier with embossed ornaments, Kṛtānta at base with regal severity; rich reds, greens, heavy gold work.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear instructional vertical diagram with labeled tiers ‘Tejas’, ‘Viśvarūpa’, ‘Narasiṃha’, ‘Kṛtānta’; soft shading, precise linework, ritual altar on the side with gaṇa offerings.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, architectural niche with three stacked alcoves: Viśvarūpa above a glowing band, Narasiṃha in the middle, Yama below; fine detailing, calligraphic captions, attendants holding ritual trays."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: इत्य् आग्नेये→इति+आग्नेये; सकलादिमन्त्रोद्धारः→सकलादि+मन्त्र+उद्धारः; षोडशाधिकत्रिशततमो ऽध्यायः→षोडशाधिकत्रिशततमः+अध्यायः; सप्तदशाधिकत्रिशततमो ऽध्यायः→सप्तदशाधिकत्रिशततमः+अध्यायः; तेजस्युपरि→तेजसि+उपरि; ततो ऽधस्तात्→ततः+अधस्तात्; तदधो→तत्+अधः
Related Themes: Agni Purana 317 (Sakalādi-mantroद्धāra colophon); Agni Purana 318 (Gaṇapūjā procedures continuing from this opening)
FAQs
It gives a nyāsa-style placement sequence for worship: install Viśvarūpa above the locus of Tejas, then place Narasiṃha below, and Kṛtānta beneath—forming a protective/ordered ritual hierarchy used in Gaṇa-pūjā.
It exemplifies the text’s practical ritual manual aspect—preserving precise installation/placement protocols (nyāsa, deity-layering) alongside mantra derivations, showing how theology is operationalized into step-by-step worship technology.
The ordered installation aligns the worshipper with cosmic hierarchy (radiance/tejas, protective Narasiṃha, and the boundary of death/Kṛtānta), aiming at protection, ritual purity, and obstruction-removal through correctly structured devotion.