Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 39
Explanation of the Vāsudeva and Related Mantras (वासुदेवादिमन्त्रनिरूपणम्)
दामोदरः केशवश् च नारायणस्ततः परः माधवश्चाथ गोविन्दो विष्णुं वै व्यापकं न्यसेत्
dāmodaraḥ keśavaś ca nārāyaṇastataḥ paraḥ mādhavaścātha govindo viṣṇuṃ vai vyāpakaṃ nyaset
Debe realizarse el nyāsa colocando los nombres divinos: Dāmodara, Keśava y luego Nārāyaṇa; después Mādhava y Govinda—instalando así a Viṣṇu como la Presencia que todo lo penetra.
Lord Agni (teaching sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Vishnu-nama-nyasa in puja: ritually 'install' specific Vishnu names on the body/limbs to sacralize the worshipper and make the deity-presence felt as vyapaka (all-pervading) before further upacharas.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Vishnu-nama-nyasa (Damodara–Keshava–Narayana–Madhava–Govinda)","lookup_keywords":["nyasa","Vishnu-nama","Damodara","Keshava","vyapaka"],"quick_summary":"Perform name-nyasa by sequentially placing key Vishnu epithets; the intent is to establish Vishnu as the all-pervading presence within the worshipper’s body-field prior to mantra-anga and puja acts."}
Concept: Vyapakatva of Vishnu realized through embodied mantra-nyasa (deha as kshetra of worship).
Application: Use nyasa to shift identity from ordinary body-sense to deity-pervaded awareness, stabilizing concentration for japa and puja.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Vishnu-nama-nyasa and mantra-anga-nyasa)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A seated worshipper performing nyasa, touching specific body points while mentally placing the names Damodara, Keshava, Narayana, Madhava, Govinda; a subtle aura of Vishnu’s pervasion radiates outward.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat bold colors, seated bhakta in dhoti performing nyasa mudras, faint Vishnu halo with conch and discus motifs in the background, sacred lamp, minimal depth, ornate borders","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central worshipper doing nyasa with raised hand to chest/limb, Vishnu’s vyapaka aura behind as a golden prabhavali, rich reds and greens, heavy gold leaf highlights, temple arch framing","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, delicate linework, instructional clarity: numbered limb points with subtle labels of Damodara/Keshava/Narayana/Madhava/Govinda, soft pastel palette, calm interior shrine setting","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, fine detailing of a puja chamber, worshipper touching limbs in sequence, calligraphic cartouches with the five names, subdued palette with intricate textiles and a small Vishnu emblem"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: केशवश्→केशवः; नारायणस्ततः→नारायणः ततः; माधवश्चाथ→माधवः च अथ; (गोविन्दो→गोविन्दः before voiced sound); विष्णुं→विष्णुम् (before vowel/semivowel in analysis).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 25.40 (anga-nyasa limb placements); Agni Purana 25.43 (bhuta-nyasa and purusha-nyasa)
FAQs
It teaches Viṣṇu-nāma-nyāsa: ritually “placing” specific names of Viṣṇu in sequence to establish an all-pervading protective presence during worship.
Alongside theology, the Agni Purāṇa preserves practical liturgical technology—procedural steps (vidhi) like nyāsa used in pūjā and mantra-sādhana—showing its coverage of applied ritual sciences.
Nyāsa is intended to sanctify the practitioner and the rite by invoking Viṣṇu’s pervasive guardianship, supporting purity, steadiness of mind, and protective merit (rakṣā) in worship.