Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 27
Tvaritā-pūjā (The Worship of Tvaritā) — Transition Verse and Context
पादादरभ्य मूर्दान्तं शिर आरभ्य पादयोः वक्षःश्रवद्रवप्लवनीथथेति ख , छ च अङ्घ्रिजानूरुगुह्ये च नाभिहृत्कण्ठदेशतः
pādādarabhya mūrdāntaṃ śira ārabhya pādayoḥ vakṣaḥśravadravaplavanīthatheti kha , cha ca aṅghrijānūruguhye ca nābhihṛtkaṇṭhadeśataḥ
Beginning from the feet up to the crown of the head—and likewise from the head down to the feet—the bodily regions are to be reckoned. The indicated areas include the chest and the region of the ear (with adjacent channels of flow), as well as the points termed “drava”, “plavanī”, “ītha”, and “the”; and further the regions of the foot, knee, thigh, and groin, and the locations at the navel, heart, and throat.
Lord Agni (teaching to sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s encyclopedic discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Anatomical/vital-point mapping from feet to crown and back, naming key regions (groin, navel, heart, throat, chest/ear region) for marma awareness, therapeutic caution, and possibly nyāsa/ritual placement alignment.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Śarīra-deśa/marma mapping: pāda-to-mūrdhan and key loci (nābhi, hṛd, kaṇṭha, guhyā)","lookup_keywords":["marma","nābhi","hṛd","kaṇṭha","guhya","pāda-mūrdhan"],"quick_summary":"A directional body-map enumerating major regions and sensitive loci from feet to head (and reverse), highlighting central points like navel, heart, throat, and groin for careful handling in therapy, protection, and ritual body-mapping."}
Concept: The body is a mapped field of loci (deśa) whose ordered enumeration enables disciplined practice—medical, martial, or ritual.
Application: Apply ordered body-scanning for diagnosis, therapy planning, or nyāsa visualization; maintain special care around enumerated vital centers.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Marma-śāstra / Śarīra-racanā: vital points and anatomical mapping)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A body-map illustration showing a vertical scan from feet to crown and back, with highlighted points at foot, knee, thigh, groin, navel, heart, throat, chest/ear region, and head; labels mark each locus.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, stylized human figure with highlighted marma points in red, annotated with Sanskrit labels (nābhi, hṛd, kaṇṭha, guhya), decorative borders like temple medical mural panels.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, iconic standing figure with gold-outlined marma points, ornate frame; central points (navel/heart/throat) emphasized with jewel-like markers.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional anatomical chart: clean outline, numbered loci from pāda to mūrdhan, arrows indicating both directions of reckoning; soft palette and precise labeling.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, physician-scribe presenting an illustrated folio of body points to a student; the chart shows highlighted loci with fine calligraphy and delicate shading."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पादादरभ्य → पादात् + आरभ्य. मूर्दान्तं → मूर्ध + अन्तम्. वक्षःश्रवद्रवप्लवनीथथेति treated as वक्षःश्रवत्-द्रव-प्लवनी + थथा + इति (mantra-quotation). नाभिहृत्कण्ठदेशतः → नाभि + हृत् + कण्ठ + देशतः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 309.26 (nyāsa placement on bodily loci, especially eyes)
FAQs
It provides an Ayurvedic-style anatomical enumeration used in marma-śāstra: mapping bodily regions from foot-to-crown (and reverse) and naming specific technical points/regions relevant for diagnosis, protection, or injury assessment.
By embedding medical/anatomical terminology (marma and regional site-listing) inside a Purāṇic text, it demonstrates the Agni Purāṇa’s coverage beyond theology—preserving practical śāstric knowledge akin to classical Ayurveda and allied sciences.
Knowing the body’s vital regions supports disciplined living and non-violence (avoiding harm to life-points), and it frames bodily knowledge as part of dharma—using practical wisdom for protection, healing, and responsible action.