Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 30
Pratiṣṭhā-Kalaśa-Śodhana-Ukti (Instruction on Purifying the Consecration Pitcher) — Chapter 85
बाहुमुक्तार्धदृश्येन चन्द्रविम्बेन सन्निभं संहारमुद्रया स्वस्थं विधायोद्भवमुद्रया
bāhumuktārdhadṛśyena candravimbena sannibhaṃ saṃhāramudrayā svasthaṃ vidhāyodbhavamudrayā
Par une mudrā où le bras est partiellement relâché et n’apparaît qu’à moitié—semblable au disque de la lune—il faut d’abord affermir (le rite ou la forme de la divinité) au moyen de la Saṃhāra-mudrā; puis en opérer la manifestation par l’Udbhava-mudrā.
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha, as the default Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Ritual hand-gestures (mudrā) used in pūjā to stabilize the invoked presence and then bring about its manifest appearance in the rite.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Saṃhāra- and Udbhava-mudrā for Stabilization and Manifestation","lookup_keywords":["saṃhāra-mudrā","udbhava-mudrā","mudrā-vidhi","candra-vimba","pūjā-nyāsa"],"quick_summary":"First employ Saṃhāra-mudrā to make the rite/deity-form steady and contained; then apply Udbhava-mudrā to cause the invoked form to arise/manifest, using a moon-orb-like hand configuration."}
Alamkara Type: Upamā (simile: resembling the orb of the moon)
Concept: Saṃhāra (withdrawal/containment) preceding Udbhava (arising/manifestation) as a controlled sequence in ritual efficacy
Application: Use ordered inner attention with outer gesture: first collect and stabilize the invoked power, then project/establish it as a perceptible presence in worship.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Tantric Mudra-Vidhi / Iconographic Ritual Gestures)
Primary Rasa: Adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: Shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A priest in pūjā posture forms a moon-disc-like hand gesture; first a ‘withdrawing/closing’ mudrā (saṃhāra) then an ‘arising/opening’ mudrā (udbhava) before a sanctified icon or kalaśa.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat luminous colors, priest performing saṃhāra-mudrā then udbhava-mudrā before a glowing devatā aura, moon-disc motif near the hands, traditional lamps, sacred calm atmosphere","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, rich reds and greens, gold leaf highlights on the moon-orb halo and ritual vessels, priest hands prominently posed in mudrā sequence, ornate arch framing the shrine","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, delicate linework, instructional clarity: two-panel depiction showing saṃhāra-mudrā then udbhava-mudrā, labeled hand positions, subdued pastel palette, temple interior","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, fine detailing of hands and textiles, courtly precision, shrine niche with icon, two sequential gestures shown in a split scene, soft shading and architectural borders"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: bāhumuktārdhadṛśyena = bāhu-mukta-ardha-dṛśyena; vidhāyodbhavamudrayā = vidhāya udbhava-mudrayā.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 85 (Pratiṣṭhā-kalaśa-śodhana; mudrā/nyāsa context); Agni Purana 86 (Vidyā-śodhana; mantra-tattva sequencing)
FAQs
It teaches a specific mudrā-sequence used in worship: first applying Saṃhāra-mudrā to stabilize/withdraw and set the rite into composure, then applying Udbhava-mudrā to bring about the intended manifestation (appearance/activation) of the deity or ritual effect.
Beyond mythic narration, the Agni Purāṇa preserves precise procedural liturgy—here, technical mudrā-operations and their intended effects—showing its role as a compendium of practical ritual science alongside other domains like polity, medicine, and the arts.
Correct mudrā-performance is presented as a means to make worship effective and orderly—purifying the practitioner’s intention, establishing ritual stability, and enabling a sanctioned ‘manifestation’ of the divine presence, thereby increasing the merit (puṇya) and efficacy of the rite.