Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 9
Chapter 83 — निर्वाणदीक्षाकथनम्
Description of the Nirvāṇa Initiation
संहारमुद्रयाअदाय सूत्रं तेनैव योजयेत् नाडीन्त्वादाय मूलेन सूत्रे न्यस्य हृदार्चयेत्
saṃhāramudrayāadāya sūtraṃ tenaiva yojayet nāḍīntvādāya mūlena sūtre nyasya hṛdārcayet
Ayant saisi le cordon rituel (sūtra) au moyen de la Saṃhāra-mudrā, on doit le fixer par cette même (mudrā). Puis, prenant les nāḍī (canaux subtils) par le mūla, les déposant sur le cordon, on doit adorer (la divinité) au hṛd, le cœur.
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Use of Saṃhāra-mudrā to take and fasten the ritual cord; then perform mūla-based nāḍī-nyāsa onto the cord and complete worship at the heart center.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Saṃhāra-mudrā sūtra-bandhana and nāḍī-nyāsa leading to hṛd-arcana","lookup_keywords":["saṃhāra-mudrā","sūtra","nāḍī","mūla","hṛd-arcana"],"quick_summary":"Grasp and secure the ritual cord with Saṃhāra-mudrā, then place the nāḍīs onto the cord via mūla-bhāvanā and worship at the heart."}
Concept: Ritual efficacy is ‘sealed’ by mudrā and internal mapping (nāḍī-nyāsa), culminating in hṛdaya-centered devotion/attention.
Application: Coordinate hand-gesture (mudrā), visualization (nāḍīs), and heart-focused worship to unify body, breath, and mantra.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Tantric ritual procedure, mantra-nyasa and mudra application)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A close-up ritual action: hands forming Saṃhāra-mudrā while fastening a cord; luminous nāḍī lines being ‘placed’ onto the cord; final heart-center worship gesture.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, enlarged hands in mudrā tying a sacred cord, glowing nāḍī lines flowing into the cord, heart lotus emphasized, bold outlines and temple-mural palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-embossed cord and heart lotus, priestly hands in mudrā, ornate ritual tray, radiant highlights for nāḍī placement, rich jewel tones","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, step-by-step instructional composition: (1) saṃhāra-mudrā grasp (2) fastening (3) nāḍī-nyāsa onto cord (4) hṛd-arcana, fine linework and labels","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed hands and cord, subtle glowing lines indicating nāḍīs, intimate shrine setting, meticulous textiles and calm expressions"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: संहारमुद्रयाऽदाय = संहारमुद्रया + आदाय (अ/आ सन्धि; often written mudrayāadāya); तेनैव = तेन + एव; नाडीन्तु = नाडीम् + तु (म् + तु → न्तु).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 83.6; Agni Purana 83.7; Agni Purana 83.10
FAQs
It teaches a precise ritual action: using the Saṃhāra-mudrā to handle and fasten a consecrated cord (sūtra), performing nyāsa of nāḍīs (subtle channels) onto that cord, and completing the act with heart-centered worship (hṛdaya-arcana).
Beyond mythic narration, the Agni Purāṇa preserves practical liturgical technology—mudrā usage, nyāsa (installation), and internal yogic anatomy (nāḍīs, mūla, hṛdaya)—showing its breadth as a manual of temple and tantric ritual procedure.
By aligning external ritual (sūtra, mudrā) with internal sanctification (nāḍī-nyāsa and hṛdaya-arcana), the act is framed as purificatory and concentrative—directing mantra-power inward and stabilizing devotion through disciplined worship.