Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 9
The Root-Mantra of Tvaritā
Tvaritā-mūla-mantra
श्मशानकर्पटे वाथ वाह्यं निष्क्रम्य मन्त्रवित् तस्य मध्ये लिखेन्नाम कर्णिकोपरि संस्थितम्
śmaśānakarpaṭe vātha vāhyaṃ niṣkramya mantravit tasya madhye likhennāma karṇikopari saṃsthitam
Or else, on a cloth taken from a cremation-ground, the knower of mantra—having gone out to the outer place—should write the name in its middle, positioned upon the karnikā, the central pericarp (hub) of the diagram.
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the Agni Purana’s common frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Yantra-lekhana for protective/operative rites: selecting a charged medium (cremation-ground cloth), moving to an outer/liminal place, and writing the target-name at the diagram’s central hub (karṇikā) to focus the operation.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Śmaśāna-kārpaṭa Yantra: Nāma-lekhana on the Karṇikā (Central Hub)","lookup_keywords":["śmaśāna-kārpaṭa","yantra-lekhana","nāma-lekhana","karṇikā","abhicāra"],"quick_summary":"For certain tantric operations, write the name at the center (karṇikā) of the diagram on cremation-ground cloth, performed in an outer/liminal setting by a mantra-knower."}
Concept: Concentration through bindu/center (karṇikā) and liminality: the ‘outside’ space and central placement intensify single-pointed intent.
Application: In diagram-based rites, keep the target-name at the exact center to ‘bind’ the operation; maintain strict ritual containment and ethical restraint.
Khanda Section: Tantra-Mantra & Abhicara (Protective/ritual operations; Yantra-lekhana)
Primary Rasa: bhayānaka
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Night-time cremation-ground: a mantra-knower spreads a dark cloth, draws a lotus-yantra, and writes a name precisely on the central karṇikā while standing at the ‘outer’ edge of the ground.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, dramatic chiaroscuro, cremation-ground trees and pyre silhouettes, practitioner drawing a lotus with central karṇikā, restrained but intense palette, ritual implements nearby.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, central lotus-yantra with gold-highlighted karṇikā, practitioner in profile writing the name, stylized cremation-ground motifs, ornate gold frame.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, diagram-forward composition: lotus with labeled karṇikā, cloth texture visible, practitioner’s hand placing the name at center, instructional clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, nocturnal garden-like cremation-ground, fine brushwork on cloth and script, attendants at distance, central lotus diagram emphasized."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: vātha → vā atha; likhennāma → likhet nāma; karṇikopari → karṇikā-upari.
Related Themes: Agni Purana yantra/abhicāra passages on karṇikā, nāma-lekhana, and choice of media (bhūrja, kārpaṭa, etc.)
FAQs
It teaches a procedural detail of yantra-lekhana: using a (ritually charged) cremation-ground cloth and writing the required name at the diagram’s central karṇikā (hub) after moving to an outer/external ritual space.
Beyond mythology, the Agni Purana preserves operational ritual technology—materials (śmaśāna-karpaṭa), spatial rules (vāhya), and diagrammatics (karṇikā)—showing its coverage of applied mantra/yantra practice alongside dharma, polity, medicine, and arts.
By specifying potent materials and precise placement at the yantra’s center, the verse frames ritual efficacy as dependent on disciplined method; it also implies heightened liminal power (śmaśāna) harnessed under mantra-guidance rather than ordinary use.