Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 11
Explanation of the Vāsudeva and Related Mantras (वासुदेवादिमन्त्रनिरूपणम्)
हृदयञ्च शिरश्चूडा कवचं नेत्रमस्त्रकं षडङ्गानि तु वीजानां मूलस्य द्वादशाङ्गकं
hṛdayañca śiraścūḍā kavacaṃ netramastrakaṃ ṣaḍaṅgāni tu vījānāṃ mūlasya dvādaśāṅgakaṃ
Les membres (aṅga) mantriques sont : le Cœur, la Tête, le Chignon suprême/Couronne (cūḍā/śikhā), l’Armure (kavaca), les Yeux et le Projectile (astra). Tels sont les six membres pour les bīja-mantras; pour le mantra-racine, il existe une disposition à douze membres.
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, the usual Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Establishing protective and empowering ṣaḍaṅga-nyāsa (heart, head, crown, armor, eyes, astra) and recognizing when a root-mantra requires a dvādaśāṅga expansion.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Ṣaḍaṅga Nyāsa and Dvādaśāṅga for Mūla-mantra","lookup_keywords":["ṣaḍaṅga","hṛdaya","kavaca","netra","astra","dvādaśāṅga"],"quick_summary":"Lists the six standard mantric limbs used with bījas and notes a twelve-limbed arrangement for the root-mantra, guiding protective kavaca-style practice."}
Weapon Type: Astra (mantric missile)
Concept: Body as kavaca (armor) through mantra-limbs; śakti is localized via nyāsa to protect and activate faculties (vision, vitality, resolve).
Application: Before japa/homa, perform ṣaḍaṅga-nyāsa to ‘seal’ the practice; use dvādaśāṅga when the mūla-mantra tradition prescribes expanded coverage.
Khanda Section: Mantra-nyasa and Kavaca (Agneya-vidya / Tantra-oriented ritual procedure)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sādhaka touches six loci—heart, head, crown, chest-armor region, eyes, and a projecting ‘astra’ gesture—forming a luminous protective shell; a secondary ring shows twelve points for the mūla-mantra.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: frontal sādhaka with six glowing loci marked, stylized protective aura like a mandala, bold lines and sacred geometry accents","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: gold-leaf kavaca aura around the figure, six loci jeweled, astra depicted as a radiant spear of light from the hand, ornate frame","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clear didactic depiction of six points with labels (hṛdaya, śiras, śikhā, kavaca, netra, astra), plus inset of twelve-point scheme","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: refined figure performing nyāsa gestures, subtle halos at six loci, astra as a thin beam, detailed textiles and margins"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: हृदयञ्च = हृदयम् + च; शिरश्चूडा = शिरः + चूडा; नेत्रमस्त्रकं = नेत्रम् + अस्त्रकम्; ṣaḍaṅgāni is dvigu compound.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 25.12 (explicit dvādaśāṅga placements); Agni Purana 25.10 (japa after nyāsa)
FAQs
It defines the ṣaḍaṅga-nyāsa mapping for bīja-mantras—heart, head, crown, armor, eyes, and astra—and notes that the mūla (root) mantra uses a more elaborate dvādaśāṅga (twelve-part) nyāsa.
Beyond mythic narration, it preserves a practical ritual-technical schema (nyāsa/kavaca/astraka) used in mantra-sādhana, showing the text’s coverage of applied liturgy and protective rites alongside other sciences.
Correct nyāsa is traditionally held to sacralize the practitioner’s body as a mantra-seat, strengthening protection (kavaca) and purification, and supporting focused, disciplined worship that yields merit (puṇya) and spiritual steadiness.