Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 10
Derivation
Uddhāra) of the Sakalādi Mantra (सकलादिमन्त्रोद्धारः
तृतीयं पुरुषं विद्धि दक्षिणं पञ्चमं तथा सप्तमं वामदेवन्तु सद्योजातन्ततःपरं
tṛtīyaṃ puruṣaṃ viddhi dakṣiṇaṃ pañcamaṃ tathā saptamaṃ vāmadevantu sadyojātantataḥparaṃ
Know the third placement as Tatpuruṣa; the fifth as Dakṣiṇa (Aghora, the southern face); and the seventh as Vāmadeva; thereafter, know Sadyojāta as the next placement.
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha, standard Agni Purāṇa frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Pañcabrahma-nyāsa mapping: assigning placements/faces (Tatpuruṣa, Aghora/Dakṣiṇa, Vāmadeva, Sadyojāta) in a sequence for ritual installation on body/maṇḍala/liṅga.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Pañcabrahma-nyāsa krama: Tatpuruṣa (3rd), Dakṣiṇa/Aghora (5th), Vāmadeva (7th), then Sadyojāta","lookup_keywords":["Pañcabrahma","Tatpuruṣa","Aghora","Vāmadeva","Sadyojāta"],"quick_summary":"Defines a specific ordering of pañcabrahma placements used in Śaiva nyāsa: identify the 3rd as Tatpuruṣa, 5th as the southern (Aghora) placement, 7th as Vāmadeva, and then Sadyojāta thereafter—supporting consistent ritual mapping."}
Concept: Śiva’s fivefold manifestation is operationalized through nyāsa: correct krama and direction/placement stabilize the sādhaka’s inner maṇḍala and the external rite.
Application: During nyāsa, touch/visualize the designated points in the stated order while invoking each brahma-aspect; in temple context, align the pañcabrahma faces with shrine directions consistently.
Khanda Section: Shaiva-Mantra-Vidya (Pañcabrahma / Sadyojāta–Vāmadeva–Aghora–Tatpuruṣa–Īśāna Nyāsa)
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A schematic of pañcabrahma-nyāsa: a five-faced Śiva diagram with directional labels; a sādhaka touching body points in sequence marked 3rd/5th/7th; a liṅga with five-face arrangement implied.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural with a central pañcavaktra Śiva, directional color-coding, and a sādhaka performing nyāsa gestures; bold outlines, temple aesthetic, clear north/south markers.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting of pañcavaktra Śiva with gold halo, five faces subtly shown, directional emblems, and a small inset of nyāsa hand-gestures; ornate border and embossed gold work.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore instructional chart: numbered placements (3,5,7) mapped to Tatpuruṣa/Aghora/Vāmadeva, then Sadyojāta; clean calligraphy, arrows, and a simplified five-face icon for clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature of a scholar-priest demonstrating nyāsa before a liṅga, with a painted scroll showing five-faced Śiva and directional annotations; fine lines, subdued palette, architectural depth."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वामदेवन्तु → वामदेवम् + तु; सद्योजातन्ततःपरं → सद्योजातम् + ततः + परम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 316 pañcabrahma/nyāsa continuation (Sadyojāta–Vāmadeva–Aghora–Tatpuruṣa–Īśāna discussions); Agni Purana mantra-nyāsa and liṅga-pūjā procedures in nearby kalpa sections
FAQs
It teaches a nyāsa-style mapping of Śiva’s Pañcabrahma faces (Tatpuruṣa, Dakṣiṇa/Aghora, Vāmadeva, Sadyojāta) to specific numbered placements in a ritual sequence.
Beyond myth, the Agni Purāṇa preserves operational ritual technology—directional assignments, mantra-face correspondences, and ordered placements—typical of temple and tantric manuals embedded within a Purāṇic compendium.
Correctly aligning the Pañcabrahma aspects is held to harmonize the practitioner with Śiva’s cosmic functions (creation, preservation, dissolution, concealment, grace), supporting purification and ritual efficacy.