Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 7
Chapter 23 — पूजाविधिकथनम्
The Account of the Rules of Worship
मूलं देहे द्वादशाङ्गं न्यसेन्मन्त्रैर् द्विषट्ककैः हृदयं च शिरश् चैव शिखा वर्मास्त्रलोचने
mūlaṃ dehe dvādaśāṅgaṃ nyasenmantrair dviṣaṭkakaiḥ hṛdayaṃ ca śiraś caiva śikhā varmāstralocane
One should install (nyāsa) the Root (mūla) upon the body, placing it on the twelve limbs by means of twelve-syllabled mantras; and then perform the placements for the Heart (hṛdaya), the Head (śiras), the Topknot (śikhā), the Armor/Protection (kavaca/varma), the Weapon (astra), and the Eyes (locana).
Lord Agni (teaching ritual procedure to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Aṅganyāsa/ṣaḍaṅga-nyāsa: installing mūla-mantra across body-limbs and then heart/head/śikhā/kavaca/astra/eyes for protection and mantra-embodiment.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Mūla-mantra Dvādaśāṅga Nyāsa and Ṣaḍaṅga Nyāsa (Hṛdaya–Śiras–Śikhā–Kavaca–Astra–Locana)","lookup_keywords":["mūla-mantra","dvādaśāṅga-nyāsa","ṣaḍaṅga-nyāsa","kavaca","locana"],"quick_summary":"Install the root mantra on twelve bodily points using twelve-syllabled units, then complete the standard six-limb nyāsa (heart, head, topknot, armor, weapon, eyes) to seal protection and awaken mantra-presence."}
Concept: Mantra is treated as a living power mapped onto the body; the practitioner becomes a consecrated locus (adhāra) through systematic limb-installation.
Application: Before japa/pūjā, perform dvādaśāṅga placements, then ṣaḍaṅga sequence to ‘close’ the practice—useful for consistency, focus, and ritual protection.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Mantra-nyasa (Tantric ritual installation of mantras on the body)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A devotee touching specific body points—heart, head, crown/topknot, shoulders/torso as armor, then a protective gesture as ‘astra,’ finally touching the eyes—indicating ṣaḍaṅga nyāsa after twelve-limb placements.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, frontal figure with clear hand-to-body touches at hṛdaya, śiras, śikhā, kavaca region, astra gesture, locana; subdued temple interior, lamp glow, traditional borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style with gold halo and ornate frame, devotee performing ṣaḍaṅga nyāsa, gold accents on sacred thread and vessels, rich floral offerings, symmetrical composition.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional clarity: sequential panels showing dvādaśāṅga points then ṣaḍaṅga (heart/head/topknot/armor/weapon/eyes), fine lines and soft colors.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature with multiple vignettes in one page, each vignette showing a nyāsa touch-point, detailed textiles and anatomy, delicate calligraphic margins."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: nyaset+mantraiḥ→nyasenmantrair; śiraḥ+ca+eva→śiraś caiva; varma+astra+locane→varmāstralocane (ā-sandhi)
Related Themes: Agni Purana 23 (mantra-aṅga-vinyāsa and nyāsa sequence)
FAQs
It teaches mantra-nyāsa: the ritual ‘installation’ of a root mantra across twelve bodily points and the standard protective placements—heart, head, crown-lock, armor, weapon, and eyes—used to sacralize and shield the practitioner before worship or japa.
Beyond mythic narration, it preserves precise liturgical technology (nyāsa taxonomy and bodily loci), showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of practical ritual manuals alongside other sciences—one reason it is treated as a compendium of applied religious knowledge.
Nyāsa is presented as purification and consecration: it aligns the body with mantra-power, establishes protective boundaries (kavaca/astra), and supports focused, fault-reducing worship—thereby enhancing the efficacy and merit of subsequent ritual acts.