Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 2
Chapter 312 — Various Mantras (नानामन्त्राः)
तारहेम्ना चेति ख केशरं त्रिगुनं पद्मं तीव्रञ्च ज्वलिनीं यजेत् नन्दाञ्च सुयशाञ्चोग्रां तेजोवतीं विन्ध्यवासिनीं
tārahemnā ceti kha keśaraṃ trigunaṃ padmaṃ tīvrañca jvalinīṃ yajet nandāñca suyaśāñcogrāṃ tejovatīṃ vindhyavāsinīṃ
Par l’énonciation mantrique « tāra » et « hema », selon l’ordre prescrit, qu’on offre du safran et des fleurs de lotus en triple mesure, et qu’on vénère les formes de la Devī, Tīvrā et Jvalinī ; de même (qu’on vénère) Nandā, Suyaśā, Ugrā, Tejovatī et Vindhyavāsinī.
Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purana narrator) instructing sage Vasiṣṭha
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Devi-upasana sequence: specific bīja/utterance cues (‘tāra’, ‘hema’), prescribed offerings (saffron, lotus) with quantity, and a list of Devī forms for worship.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Devī-forms with offerings: Tīvrā–Jvalinī–Nandā–Suyaśā–Ugrā–Tejovatī–Vindhyavāsinī","lookup_keywords":["tāra bīja","hema mantra","keśara offering","padma offering","Vindhyavāsinī"],"quick_summary":"Invoke Devī using specified mantric utterances and offer saffron and lotus in triple measure, then worship a defined series of Devī aspects culminating in Vindhyavāsinī."}
Concept: One Devī approached through many functional names (nāma-bheda) and energies, stabilized by mantra and dravya (offerings).
Application: Use name-series (nāma-krama) as a checklist in pūjā; match offerings and counts to maintain prayoga fidelity.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Devi-upasana (Tantric-style enumeration of Devī forms for worship)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Type: Mountain
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A Śākta altar with saffron and lotus offerings arranged in triple measure; the Devī appears in successive emanations—fierce and radiant—ending as Vindhyavāsinī against a mountain backdrop.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, central Devī with multiple emanated forms around; flames for Jvalinī, fierce eyes for Ugrā, serene smile for Nandā; saffron bowls and lotus garlands; Vindhya mountains stylized behind.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Devī enthroned with gold halo; surrounding smaller panels for each name-form; heavy gold work on lotus and ornaments; saffron offering plate prominent.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional tableau: offerings labeled ‘keśara’ and ‘padma’ with ‘triguṇa’; sequential Devī icons in a row with captions; clean pastel tones.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined shrine scene: priest presenting saffron and lotus thrice; Devī manifestations painted as delicate vignettes; distant blue Vindhya hills; fine textile detail."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: tīvrañca → tīvraṃ ca; suyaśāñcogrāṃ → suyaśāṃ ca ugrāṃ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Devi-upasana and mantra lists in the Puja-vidhi/Mantra-shastra khanda (adjacent chapters); Agni Purana sections on bīja-mantras and nyāsa procedures
FAQs
It prescribes a puja sequence: using specific mantric utterances and offering saffron and lotus in a threefold measure while invoking particular Devī forms (Tīvrā, Jvalinī, Nandā, Suyaśā, Ugrā, Tejovatī, Vindhyavāsinī).
It exemplifies the text’s practical ritual manual dimension—listing precise offerings, measures, and deity-epithets—alongside its broader coverage of theology, rites, and applied religious practice.
Worship of these Śakti forms with correct offerings and mantra is presented as a means of protection, purification, and the gaining of auspicious results such as splendor (tejas), good repute (suyaśas), and prosperity (nandā).