Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 16
Explanation of the Vāsudeva and Related Mantras (वासुदेवादिमन्त्रनिरूपणम्)
जात्यन्तैर् नामसंयुक्तेर्हृदयादीनि पञ्चधा प्रणवं हृदयादीनि ततः प्रोक्तानि पञ्चधा
jātyantair nāmasaṃyukterhṛdayādīni pañcadhā praṇavaṃ hṛdayādīni tataḥ proktāni pañcadhā
When the name is conjoined with case-endings (jāti-anta), the nyāsa placements beginning with the Heart and the other parts are to be done in five ways. Thereafter, the Praṇava (Oṃ) is likewise prescribed to be placed on the Heart and the other parts in five ways.
Lord Agni (narrating ritual procedure to Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s instructional dialogue style)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Standardizing hr̥dayādi-nyāsa (heart etc.) in fivefold placement using name-mantras with case-endings, and separately prescribing fivefold praṇava placement.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Fivefold hr̥dayādi-nyāsa for name-mantra and praṇava","lookup_keywords":["hṛdayādi-nyāsa","pañcadhā","praṇava","nāma-mantra","vibhakti"],"quick_summary":"When a deity-name is used with grammatical endings, perform heart-and-related nyāsas in a fivefold scheme; then place Oṃ similarly in fivefold fashion."}
Concept: Ritual language (name + vibhakti) is operationalized into bodily installation; praṇava functions as universal seed for internal consecration.
Application: Use a consistent fivefold mapping (commonly heart, head, topknot, armor, weapon—per local paddhati) for both name-mantra and Oṃ to avoid incomplete nyāsa.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Mantra-nyasa and Tantric ritual preliminaries (Hridayadi-nyasa, Pranava-vinyasa)
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A five-point nyāsa sequence is shown: heart and other loci highlighted on a human figure silhouette; Oṃ and the deity-name with case-ending appear as luminous glyphs moving to each locus.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized human figure with five highlighted loci, glowing Oṃ placed sequentially, minimal background, temple palette and bold outlines","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-backed diagram: five lotus medallions on body marking nyāsa points, Oṃ embossed in gold on each, ornamental borders","mysore_prompt":"Mysore, instructional chart with clear limb points and arrows, Sanskrit labels for hṛdaya/śiras/śikhā etc., soft colors and fine detailing","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholar-priest demonstrating nyāsa to a student with a painted diagram scroll showing five placements of Oṃ, delicate calligraphy and architectural setting"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: नामसंयुक्तेर्हृदयादीनि = नामसंयुक्तेः + हृदयादीनि (visarga before h).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 25.17 (explicit hr̥daya/śiras/śikhā/kavaca/astra mapping)
FAQs
It teaches the fivefold application of nyāsa—placing the mantra (including the Praṇava ‘Oṃ’) onto the heart and related aṅgas (ritual body-points) as part of mantra-sādhana and pūjā preparation.
Beyond narrative theology, it preserves precise liturgical mechanics—how to inflect and apply mantra-formulas with bodily placements—showing the text’s coverage of practical ritual science alongside broader dharma and devotion.
Performing nyāsa is treated as sanctifying the practitioner’s body as a mantra-seat, supporting purity, concentration, and ritual efficacy, which is traditionally linked with merit (puṇya) and removal of impediments in worship.