Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 6
Explanation of the Characteristics of Mudrās (मुद्रालक्षणकथनं)
सर्वसिद्ध्यै इति ख, ङ, चिह्नितपुस्तकद्वयपाठः वैराजं नागसंयुतमिति ख, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाट्ःअः यौ वीजं चाङ्गसंयुतमिति ङ, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः यः सव्येर्धे प्रकीर्तित इति ख, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः वराहस्य स्मृता मुद्रा अङ्गनाञ्च क्रमादिमाः एकैकां मोचयेद्बद्ध्वा वाममुष्टो तथागुलीं
sarvasiddhyai iti kha, ṅa, cihnitapustakadvayapāṭhaḥ vairājaṃ nāgasaṃyutamiti kha, cihnitapustakapāṭḥaḥ yau vījaṃ cāṅgasaṃyutamiti ṅa, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ yaḥ savyerdhe prakīrtita iti kha, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ varāhasya smṛtā mudrā aṅganāñca kramādimāḥ ekaikāṃ mocayedbaddhvā vāmamuṣṭo tathāgulīṃ
«Zur Erlangung aller Siddhis»—so lesen gewisse markierte Handschriften; und manche lesen: «die Vairāja-Form, verbunden mit dem Nāga-Element». Andere lesen: «die bīja “yau” zusammen mit den aṅgas (Hilfs- bzw. Gliedmantras)», und einige lesen: «die Silbe “yaḥ” wird auf der linken Hälfte verkündet». Sodann wird die Mudrā des Varāha gelehrt, ebenso die Reihenfolge, die mit den aṅganā-Mudrās beginnt: nachdem man die linke Hand zur Faust geschlossen und die Finger geordnet hat, soll man sie der Reihe nach einzeln lösen.
Lord Agni (in dialogue tradition, instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Text-critical awareness of mantra readings (pāṭhabheda) plus practical instruction for Varāha-mudrā and aṅganā-mudrā sequence using left fist and sequential finger release.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Pāṭhabheda notes and Varāha-mudrā with aṅganā-mudrā sequence","lookup_keywords":["pāṭhabheda","Varāha-mudrā","aṅganā-mudrā","bīja yau","aṅga-mantra"],"quick_summary":"Records variant manuscript readings about siddhi-formulas and bīja placement, then teaches Varāha-mudrā and an ordered release of fingers from a left-fist formation—linking mantra variants to embodied practice."}
Concept: Śāstra is transmitted with variants; the sādhaka must reconcile pāṭha (text) and prayoga (practice) while keeping krama (sequence) intact.
Application: When learning from different lineages/manuscripts, note bīja/anga variations, then standardize your mudrā sequence (left fist; release fingers one-by-one) under a teacher’s guidance.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Tantra (Mudrā-lakṣaṇa and Mantra-nyāsa)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A manuscript page with marginal marks indicating variant readings; beside it, a practitioner forms a left fist and releases fingers sequentially, with a subtle Varāha emblem (boar motif) indicating the mudrā’s name.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, scribe-priest holding palm-leaf manuscript with marked letters, second figure demonstrates Varāha-mudrā, boar emblem in the background, lamp-lit sanctum ambience.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, ornate manuscript stand, gold-leaf accents on the manuscript border, hands in left-fist mudrā releasing fingers, small Varāha icon medallion.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional panel: top shows variant text snippets, bottom shows stepwise finger-release sequence numbered 1–5, clean lines and soft shading.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholar-priest comparing two manuscripts, annotations visible; in foreground, detailed hands demonstrate mudrā; subtle boar motif on a banner."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Raga Kedar","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: Verse contains extensive critical-apparatus text; analysis performed for the main readable pāda: “वराहस्य स्मृता मुद्रा ...”. अङ्गनाञ्च = अङ्गनान् + च; मोचयेद्बद्ध्वा = मोचयेत् + बद्ध्वा; वाममुष्टो = वाममुष्टः; तथागुलीं = तथा + अङ्गुलीम्
Related Themes: Agni Purana 26 (mudrā-pradarśana: Varāha and related mudrās)
FAQs
It teaches a specific ritual procedure: the Varāha-mudrā and an ordered method of forming and releasing fingers (mudrā-krama), alongside manuscript-noted alternatives for the associated bīja/aṅga-mantra phrasing used for siddhi-oriented worship.
It preserves practical liturgical technology—mudrās, bīja-mantras, aṅga/nyāsa usage—and even records variant manuscript readings, showing the Agni Purāṇa’s scope across ritual science, mantra theory, and transmission history.
The mudrā and mantra-structure are framed as means “for all siddhis,” implying that correct ritual gesture and sound (bīja with aṅgas) is believed to focus devotion, purify intention, and generate auspicious spiritual efficacy in Varāha-oriented worship.