Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 10
अध्याय ७३: सूर्यपूजाविधिः
Sūrya-pūjā-vidhi — The Procedure for Sun-Worship
पद्ममुद्रां बिल्वमुद्रां प्रदर्श्याग्नौ हृदीरितं ॐ आं हृदयाय नमः अर्काय शिरसे तथा
padmamudrāṃ bilvamudrāṃ pradarśyāgnau hṛdīritaṃ oṃ āṃ hṛdayāya namaḥ arkāya śirase tathā
Après avoir montré la Mudrā du Lotus (Padma) et la Mudrā de Bilva, on doit prononcer sur Agni (le feu sacré) le mantra du cœur : «Oṃ āṃ—hommage au Cœur», et de même le (mantra) de la tête : «à Arka—hommage à la Tête».
Lord Agni (in dialogue with Sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Pūjā-vidhi nyāsa: using specific mudrās and bīja/mantra placements (hṛdaya, śiras) to consecrate the worshipper and the fire-altar before offerings.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Padma–Bilva Mudrā with Hṛdaya–Śiras Nyāsa over Agni","lookup_keywords":["padma-mudrā","bilva-mudrā","hṛdaya-nyāsa","śiras-nyāsa","agni-pūjā"],"quick_summary":"Show Padma and Bilva mudrās, then recite the heart and head mantras over the sacred fire to establish inner and upper-body protection/empowerment for the rite."}
Concept: Deha-devatā-nyāsa: sanctifying body-centers (hṛdaya, śiras) through mantra to align microcosm with the ritual deity.
Application: Use as a preparatory step before main offerings to stabilize attention and invoke protective/empowering presence.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Mantra-nyasa and Mudra-prayoga in worship)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A worshipper seated before a small sacred fire, hands forming Padma and Bilva mudrās, reciting bīja-mantras while touching heart and head in nyāsa.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, warm ochres and reds, a vaidika-tantric priest before a homa-kunda, hands in padma-mudrā then bilva-mudrā, subtle mantra syllables inscribed near heart and head, stylized flames and lotus motifs.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central Agni with gold-leaf flames, priest performing mudrā, ornate borders, embossed lotus patterns, inscriptions of 'oṃ āṃ hṛdayāya namaḥ' and 'arkāya śirase namaḥ' in decorative cartouches.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean linework showing stepwise ritual: mudrā display then nyāsa touches at heart and head, labeled directions and mantra syllables, calm interior shrine setting.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate ritual chamber with a small fire altar, detailed textiles, the officiant’s fingers precisely posed in mudrā, fine calligraphy-like mantra syllables hovering near chest and crown."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: प्रदर्श्याग्नौ = प्रदर्श्य + अग्नौ; हृदीरितम् = हृदि + ईरितम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 73 (nyāsa, mudrā-prayoga, kavaca-netra-śikhā)
FAQs
It teaches mudrā-prayoga (showing Padma and Bilva mudrās) together with aṅga/nyāsa application—reciting the heart-mantra (oṃ āṃ hṛdayāya namaḥ) and the head-mantra associated with Arka.
Beyond mythology, it preserves procedural liturgy—specific mudrās, bīja-syllables, and nyāsa placements—documenting practical temple/household worship technology alongside other sciences covered in the text.
Performing mudrā and nyāsa with mantra is meant to ritually purify and “install” sacred power in the practitioner’s body and the rite, stabilizing concentration and sanctifying the offering to Agni.