Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 3
Adhyāya 88 — निर्वाणदीक्षाकथनं
Teaching of the Nirvāṇa-Initiation
व्योमरूपमनाथञ्च स्यादनाश्रितनष्टमं ओङ्कारपदमीशाने मन्त्रो वर्णाश् च षोडश
vyomarūpamanāthañca syādanāśritanaṣṭamaṃ oṅkārapadamīśāne mantro varṇāś ca ṣoḍaśa
Dans le cadre d’Īśāna (Śiva), le mantra est de nature spatiale (vyoman), sans protecteur (anātha) et comme « sans appui et dissous » (anāśrita-naṣṭa). Son assise est la syllabe Oṃ (oṅkāra-pada), et ses phonèmes constitutifs sont au nombre de seize.
Lord Agni (teaching the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s instructional dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Understanding Īśāna-mantra ontology: its basis in Oṃ, its ‘space-like’ nature, and its sixteen phonemic constituents—used to guide nyāsa, japa segmentation, and phonemic visualization.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Īśāna-mantra: vyoma-svarūpa, oṅkāra-pada, sixteen varṇas","lookup_keywords":["Īśāna","vyoma-rūpa","oṅkāra","ṣoḍaśa-varṇa","mantra-tattva"],"quick_summary":"Defines the Īśāna-context mantra as space-like and grounded in Oṃ, constituted by sixteen phonemes—supporting phonemic doctrine for mantra practice."}
Concept: Mantra as vyoma (space/ākāśa): ungraspable, supportless, yet functionally grounded in praṇava; sound-ontology mapped through a fixed phoneme count.
Application: Use praṇava as the stabilizing ‘pada’ in contemplation; employ sixteen-varṇa mapping for internal nyāsa/visualization to cultivate steadiness and subtle awareness.
Khanda Section: Isana-kalpa / Mantra-vidhi (Tantric mantra classification and phonemic doctrine)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"An abstract teaching scene: a vast sky/space backdrop symbolizing vyoma, the praṇava Oṃ as the ‘footing’, and a ring of sixteen phonemes around it, associated with Īśāna.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, deep indigo ‘space’ field with stylized cloud motifs, central Oṃ in traditional script, sixteen varṇa petals around, subtle Īśāna emblem (trident/third eye) integrated, calm sacred geometry","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central Oṃ in raised gold, sixteen-petal lotus with gold embossing, minimal figure of Īśāna/Śiva as guardian, rich maroon background, ornate frame","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, pedagogic diagram: Oṃ at center, sixteen labeled phoneme segments, side vignette of guru explaining, clean lines and soft palette","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature manuscript folio, central calligraphic Oṃ with a circular band of sixteen letters, starry sky motif, fine border illumination"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Darbari Kanada","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: anāthaṃ+ca → anāthañca (ṃ + c → ñc); syāt+anāśrita… → syādanāśrita… (t + a → d a by sandhi); oṅkārapadam+īśāne → oṅkārapadamīśāne (a + ī → ī).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 88 (mantra classification and varṇa doctrine)
FAQs
It defines an Īśāna-oriented mantra as grounded in Oṃ (oṅkāra-pada) and specifies a technical count of its phonemic components as sixteen varṇas—useful for correct mantra-vinyāsa (phoneme placement) and recitation.
Beyond mythic narration, it records a compact piece of mantra-śāstra: metaphysical characterization (space-like, unbased) plus practical phonemic specification (sixteen letters), illustrating the Purāṇa’s coverage of ritual technology and linguistic doctrine.
By anchoring the mantra in Oṃ and preserving its exact phonemic form, the practitioner aligns recitation with the intended subtle power (śakti) of the Īśāna mantra, supporting purification and efficacy through correct mantra-sādhana.