Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 23
Chapter 312 — Various Mantras (नानामन्त्राः)
पद्ममध्यदलेषु ह्रीं स्वरान् कादींस्तितः स्त्रियाः षट्कोणे वा घटे वाथ लिखित्वा स्याद्वशीकरं
padmamadhyadaleṣu hrīṃ svarān kādīṃstitaḥ striyāḥ ṣaṭkoṇe vā ghaṭe vātha likhitvā syādvaśīkaraṃ
Indem man in den mittleren Blättern eines Lotus-Diagramms die Bīja „hrīṃ“ zusammen mit den Vokalen und den mit ka beginnenden Konsonanten—sowie mit dem Namen der (betreffenden) Frau—entweder in ein Hexagramm oder auf einen Topf (ghaṭa) schreibt, erlangt man ein dem Vaśīkaraṇa (Unterwerfung) dienliches Ritual.
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Yantra-lekhana for vaśīkaraṇa: inscribing bīja and varṇamālā with target name in lotus/ṣaṭkoṇa or on ghaṭa as a ritual implement.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Vaśīkaraṇa-yantra: Hrīṃ + varṇamālā + nāma in padma/ṣaṭkoṇa/ghaṭa","lookup_keywords":["Vashikarana","Yantra-lekhana","Hrīm","Shatkona","Ghaṭa"],"quick_summary":"Gives a concrete method: write hrīṃ with vowels and ka-series consonants plus the woman’s name in a lotus center, within a hexagram or on a pot, to effect a subjugating/attracting rite."}
Concept: Mantra-śakti is operationalized through written form (lipi) and sacred geometry (yantra) with varṇamālā as sonic totality.
Application: Pair mantra-japa with correctly drawn yantra on a consecrated support (paper/metal/ghaṭa) for intended ritual effect.
Khanda Section: Tantra-Mantra (Vashikarana / Yantra-lekhana)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shringara
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritualist draws a lotus-yantra: in the central petals are written hrīṃ, the vowels, ka-series consonants, and the target name; the diagram is placed within a hexagram or inscribed on a consecrated pot.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, priest seated with palm-leaf stylus drawing a lotus and ṣaṭkoṇa on a ritual board, red hrīṃ at center, sacred pot nearby, minimal background, strong outlines, temple ambience","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, ornate yantra on a golden ground: lotus with central petals, bold hrīṃ, surrounding varṇas, hexagram frame, consecrated ghaṭa with gold embellishment, rich reds and gold leaf","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional diagram style: clean lotus and ṣaṭkoṇa geometry, legible Sanskrit letters (hrīṃ, svaras, ka-varga), ritual pot labeled, calm palette and precise linework","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholar-ritualist in a study inscribing a yantra on paper and on a pot, fine calligraphy, detailed objects (inkpot, stylus, copper ghaṭa), subdued architectural interior"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कादींस्तितः → कादीन् स्थितः (न् + स्); स्याद्वशीकरं → स्यात् वशीकरम् (द्-सन्धि)
Related Themes: Agni Purana 312.24 (mūla-mantra and ṣaḍaṅga nyāsa to empower the rite); Agni Purana 312.25 (dhyāna of Devī to precede yantra use)
FAQs
It teaches a yantra-lekhana method for vaśīkaraṇa: inscribing “hrīṃ” along with the Sanskrit vowel set and the ka-initial consonant series, plus the target woman’s name, within a lotus’ central petals, and placing it in a ṣaṭkoṇa or on a ritual pot.
Beyond mythic narration, the Agni Purana catalogs applied ritual technologies—mantra-bījas, phonemic grids (vowels/ka-series), yantra geometry (lotus, hexagram), and ritual media (ghaṭa)—showing its wide scope across practical Tantra and ceremonial procedures.
It frames phonemes and bīja-mantras as operative sacred forces used to influence outcomes; traditionally, such acts are treated as powerful and ethically weighty, requiring disciplined intention and ritual purity, since they aim at controlling another’s will.