Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 27
Explanation of the Vāsudeva and Related Mantras (वासुदेवादिमन्त्रनिरूपणम्)
करे देहे न्यसेदाद्यमङ्गुष्टादिक्रमेण तु तलसंस्थः सप्तमश् च लोकेशो देहके क्रमात्
kare dehe nyasedādyamaṅguṣṭādikrameṇa tu talasaṃsthaḥ saptamaś ca lokeśo dehake kramāt
One should install (the mantras) first on the hand and then on the body, in the sequence beginning with the thumb and so on. The seventh (mantra/deity) is to be placed in the palm; and likewise the Lokanātha (Lord of the worlds) is to be installed on the body in due order.
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in ritual procedure)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Kara-nyāsa and deha-nyāsa: install mantras on hand and body in thumb-first order; place the seventh in the palm; then install Lokanātha across the body for pūjā and protection.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Kara-nyāsa, Deha-nyāsa, and Saptama-tala-sthāpana (Palm Placement) with Lokanātha-vinyāsa","lookup_keywords":["kara-nyāsa","deha-nyāsa","aṅguṣṭādi-krama","tala-stha","lokanātha"],"quick_summary":"The verse gives a practical nyāsa order: first the hand, then the body, starting from the thumb sequence; the seventh is placed in the palm. It further indicates installing the Lord of the worlds on the body in a defined order."}
Concept: Embodied ritual cognition: the hand (agency) and body (field of experience) are made mantra-saturated, aligning action with the cosmic lordship (Lokanātha).
Application: Before pūjā/japa, perform kara-nyāsa to steady mudrā and attention; then deha-nyāsa to internalize the deity, reducing distraction and enhancing dhāraṇā.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Nyasa / Mantra-deha-vinyasa)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A priest/sādhaka performing kara-nyāsa: touching thumb and fingers in sequence, then touching body points; the palm highlighted as the seventh placement; a subtle figure of Lokanātha superimposed on the body.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, ritualist with exaggerated hand gestures, thumb-to-finger sequence clearly shown, palm glowing for the seventh, body marked with traditional locus symbols, ornate temple border","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, richly adorned priest with gold-highlighted hands, palm center embossed, deity aura of Lokanātha overlaying the torso, gold leaf detailing on hand and body loci","mysore_prompt":"Mysore, step-by-step instructional layout: hand diagram with thumb-first numbering, adjacent full-body figure with placement points, neat labels, soft colors and fine outlines","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate shrine scene with a practitioner performing nyāsa, delicate depiction of hand positions, palm emphasized, subtle translucent deity form aligned with the body"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: nyaset + ādyam → nyasedādyam; saptamaḥ + ca → saptamaś ca.
Related Themes: Agni Purana pūjā-vidhi chapters (nyāsa, mudrā, mantra-aṅga); Agni Purana 25.25–25.28 (nyāsa cluster)
FAQs
It teaches nyāsa—ritually placing mantras/deities on the fingers (starting with the thumb), assigning the seventh to the palm, and then performing the corresponding body-installation (deha-nyāsa) in sequence.
Beyond mythology, it preserves precise liturgical technology (mantra-nyāsa mapping onto hand and body), showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of practical pūjā-vidhi and tantric-ritual method alongside other sciences.
Nyāsa sacralizes the practitioner’s body as a fit ‘seat’ for mantra-devatā, supporting concentration, purity, and ritual efficacy—framing worship as an embodied, consecrated act.