Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 25
Explanation of the Vāsudeva and Related Mantras (वासुदेवादिमन्त्रनिरूपणम्)
व्यापकं मानसं न्यस्य ततोङ्गुष्टादितः क्रमात् मूर्धास्यहृद्गुह्यपत्सु कथितः करुणात्मकः
vyāpakaṃ mānasaṃ nyasya tatoṅguṣṭāditaḥ kramāt mūrdhāsyahṛdguhyapatsu kathitaḥ karuṇātmakaḥ
Habiendo instalado (nyāsa) el mantra mental (manásico) que todo lo penetra, luego—comenzando por el pulgar y siguiendo el orden debido—se declara que Aquel cuya naturaleza es la compasión se coloca/se realiza en la cabeza, la boca, el corazón, la región secreta y los pies.
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in ritual-tantric procedure)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Perform manasic-nyāsa: mentally install the all-pervading mantra across thumb-sequence and key body-centers for dhyāna, protection, and deity-identification.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Mānasa-nyāsa of the Vyāpaka Mantra (Thumb-sequence to Head–Mouth–Heart–Guhya–Feet)","lookup_keywords":["nyāsa","mānasa","vyāpaka","aṅguṣṭādi-krama","guhya"],"quick_summary":"The verse outlines a mental nyāsa procedure: begin from the thumb sequence and place/realize the mantra at major loci (head, mouth, heart, secret region, feet). The installed deity/mantra is characterized as compassion-natured, shaping the sādhaka’s bhāva."}
Concept: Deha as mantra-ādhāra: the body-mind is sacralized by conscious placement, transforming identity into vyāpakatva (pervasion) and karuṇā (compassion).
Application: Use the sequence as a prelude to japa/dhyāna: stabilize attention by touching/visualizing loci, then maintain compassionate intention during practice.
Khanda Section: Yoga & Tantra: Nyāsa (Mantra-installation) and subtle-body meditation
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A yogin seated in meditation performing mental nyāsa: subtle light moving from thumb through fingers, then settling at head, mouth, heart, guhya, and feet; aura of compassionate radiance.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, seated sādhaka with stylized halo, glowing points at head, mouth, heart, guhya, feet, hand shown with thumb-first emphasis, bold outlines and traditional floral borders","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, central meditating figure with embossed gold aura, five highlighted body-loci with gem-like circles, rich textiles, gold detailing around the hand and thumb sequence","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional composition: side diagram of hand (thumb onward) and front figure with marked loci, fine lines, soft colors, clear Devanagari labels for śiras, āsya, hṛd, guhya, pāda","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, ascetic in a quiet chamber, delicate depiction of luminous points on the body, a manuscript page showing nyāsa steps, intricate border and calligraphy"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: tataḥ + aṅguṣṭāditaḥ → tatoṅguṣṭāditaḥ; mūrdhā + āsya + hṛd + guhya + pats(u) listed as separate locatives: mūrdhā āsye hṛdi guhye pats(u).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 25 (nyāsa and mantra-deha-vinyāsa cluster); Agni Purana pūjā-vidhi sections describing kara-nyāsa and aṅga-nyāsa
FAQs
It teaches a nyāsa-krama: mentally installing the all-pervading mantra and mapping its placement through bodily loci—starting from thumb-sequence and culminating in head, mouth, heart, secret region, and feet.
Beyond mythic narration, it preserves applied ritual technology—tantric-style mantra installation and subtle-body localization—showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of practical sādhana methods alongside theology and dharma.
By internalizing the mantra through nyāsa, the practitioner sacralizes the body as a mantra-field, cultivating purity, focused devotion, and a compassionate (karuṇātmaka) disposition aligned with the invoked divine presence.