Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 7
Chapter 83 — निर्वाणदीक्षाकथनम्
Description of the Nirvāṇa Initiation
मूलेन तच्छिखाबन्धं पादाङ्गुष्ठान्तमानयेत् संहारेण मुमुक्षोस्तु बध्नीयाच्छिष्यकायके
mūlena tacchikhābandhaṃ pādāṅguṣṭhāntamānayet saṃhāreṇa mumukṣostu badhnīyācchiṣyakāyake
Par le « mūla » (principe racine), on doit faire descendre cette ligature du chignon (śikhā-bandha) jusqu’à l’extrémité du gros orteil ; et, par le « saṃhāra » (résorption/recueillement), pour l’aspirant à la délivrance, elle doit être solidement « liée » dans le corps du disciple.
Lord Agni (teaching to Vasiṣṭha, in the Agni Purana’s instructional dialogue style)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Kundalinī/laya-oriented internal binding: drawing the śikhā-bandha (topknot-binding energy/marker) from mūla to the great toe and fixing it within the disciple’s body through saṃhāra (withdrawal/absorption).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Mūla-saṃbandha and saṃhāra-bandhana for the mumukṣu","lookup_keywords":["mūla","śikhā-bandha","pādāṅguṣṭha","saṃhāra","mumukṣu"],"quick_summary":"A yogic-ritual instruction: guide the binding from the root principle down to the great toe, then stabilize it through absorptive withdrawal within the disciple’s body for liberation-oriented practice."}
Concept: Saṃhāra (laya/withdrawal) as a means to stabilize subtle forces in the body for mokṣa-oriented transformation.
Application: In guided practice, pair breath/attention withdrawal with a clear body-map (mūla to toe) to cultivate steadiness and containment of prāṇa/śakti.
Khanda Section: Yoga & Moksha-vidya (Pranayama, Kundalini, Laya-yoga practices)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A guru instructs a disciple in subtle-body practice: an energy line traced from the pelvic root down to the great toe, with the notion of binding and absorption shown as a coiling or sealing within the body.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized yogic figure seated, luminous channel lines from mūla to foot, guru gesturing instruction, subtle aura indicating saṃhāra, minimal background with temple lamp motifs","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, yogic disciple with gold-highlighted nāḍī lines, guru beside, emphasis on crown and root points, ornate halo, embossed gold for the binding path to the toe","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, diagrammatic clarity: body outline with marked mūla and pādāṅguṣṭha, arrowed flow, caption-like Sanskrit labels, calm faces, soft shading","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate teaching scene in a pavilion, fine anatomical stylization with a faint glowing line to the toe, restrained palette, detailed textiles, precise hand gestures"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तच्छिखाबन्धम् = तत् + शिखाबन्धम्; पादाङ्गुष्ठान्तम् = पाद + अङ्गुष्ठ + अन्तम्; मुमुक्षोस्तु = मुमुक्षोः + तु; बध्नीयाच्छिष्यकायके = बध्नीयात् + शिष्यकायके (च्-आगम/सन्धि).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 83.6; Agni Purana 83.9
FAQs
A practical yoga-vidhi: using the ‘mūla’ (base principle) and saṃhāra (withdrawal/absorption) to internalize and ‘bind’ the subtle knot (śikhā-bandha imagery) within the body as a discipline for a mumukṣu.
It shows the Agni Purana is not only mythic narrative but also a manual of applied disciplines—here, a technical yogic instruction using specialized terms (mūla, saṃhāra, bandha) alongside other chapters that cover ritual, polity, medicine, and arts.
The instruction aims at inner withdrawal and stabilization of the practitioner’s energies/mind, supporting detachment and concentration—key conditions for mokṣa-oriented practice rather than outward ritual merit alone.