Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 21
Explanation of the Vāsudeva and Related Mantras (वासुदेवादिमन्त्रनिरूपणम्)
वाय्वर्कौ करशाखासु सव्येतरकरद्वये हृदि मूर्तो तनावेष त्रिव्यूहे तुर्यरूपके
vāyvarkau karaśākhāsu savyetarakaradvaye hṛdi mūrto tanāveṣa trivyūhe turyarūpake
Place Vāyu and Arka (the Sun) in the finger-branches, in the pair of hands—left and right. And in the heart install the embodied One, together with Tanāveṣa, within the threefold emanational array (trivyuha), in the fourth, transcendent form.
Lord Agni (teaching the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Detailed kara-nyāsa and hṛdaya-nyāsa mapping of Vāyu–Arka and the embodied deity within a triadic emanation, culminating in the fourth transcendent placement for meditative stabilization.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Kara–Hṛdaya Nyāsa: Vāyu–Arka and Turya Placement in Tri-vyūha","lookup_keywords":["kara-nyasa","hridaya-nyasa","vayu","arka","turya"],"quick_summary":"Install Vāyu and Arka along the finger-branches and both hands; place the embodied deity in the heart together with Tanāveṣa, within a threefold array, culminating in the fourth (turya) transcendent form."}
Concept: Progression from functional forces (Vāyu/Arka) in the limbs to the heart-centered embodied divinity, then to turya (transcendent) integration beyond the triad.
Application: Use the mapping to unify breath (Vāyu), illumination (Arka), and inner fire/deity presence, culminating in non-distracted absorption (turya-bhāva).
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Mantra-nyasa and Tantric visualization (Deity-placement on the body)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A body-mandala diagram: Vāyu and Sun installed along fingers and both hands; a radiant deity seated in the heart-lotus with an accompanying subtle form (Tanāveṣa), surrounded by three emanational layers, opening into a fourth transcendent glow.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, frontal figure with hands extended, finger segments marked with wind and sun symbols, heart-lotus with seated luminous deity, three concentric aura bands and an outer pure white turya radiance, stylized sacred geometry.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, ornate hands with gold finger markings, sun medallions and wind scrolls, heart-lotus in embossed gold with central deity, triple aura rings, outer turya halo, jewel tones and heavy gold work.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean instructional mapping of fingers and heart placement, subtle labels, soft gradients for three vyūhas and a distinct fourth luminous field, calm palette, precise linework.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, elegant figure with detailed hands, small sun and wind motifs on fingers, heart shown as a lotus window with tiny enthroned deity, layered halos indicating threefold array and a faint fourth glow, fine brushwork."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वाय्वर्कौ = वायु-अर्कौ; करशाखासु = कर-शाखासु; सव्येतरकरद्वये = सव्य-इतर-कर-द्वये; तनावेष = तनु-आवेशः (IAST tanāveṣa); त्रिव्यूहे = त्रि-व्यूहे; तुर्यरूपके = तुर्य-रूपके.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 25.20 (Agni trimūrti nyāsa); Agni Purana 25.22 (Veda-nyāsa mapping); Agni Purana 25.23 (bhūta-nyāsa)
FAQs
It gives a nyāsa mapping: specific divine powers (Vāyu and the Sun) are installed in the fingers and hands, while a higher, embodied principle is installed in the heart as part of a tri-vyūha and a transcendent (turyā) form visualization.
Beyond mythology, the Agni Purana preserves practical liturgical technology—mantra-nyāsa, deity-placement, and layered metaphysics (vyūha/turyā)—showing its coverage of ritual science alongside other disciplines.
Nyāsa sacralizes the practitioner’s body as a mantra-seat, aiming at purification, steadiness of mind, and effective worship by aligning bodily loci (hands/heart) with divine energies and higher states of consciousness.