Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 6
Worship by Limb-Syllables
Aṅgākṣara-arcana
तलेङ्गुष्ठे तदुत्तारं वीजोत्तारं ततो न्यसेत् रक्तगौरधूम्रहरिज्जातरूपाः सितास्त्रयः
taleṅguṣṭhe taduttāraṃ vījottāraṃ tato nyaset raktagauradhūmraharijjātarūpāḥ sitāstrayaḥ
હથેળીમાં અંગૂઠાના મૂળ પાસે પ્રથમ તે (મંત્ર)નું ‘ઉત્તાર’ ન્યાસ કરવો, ત્યારબાદ બીજાક્ષરનું ‘ઉત્તાર’ સ્થાપિત કરવું. સંબંધિત રૂપ/વર્ણ—રક્ત, ગૌર, ધૂમ્ર, હરિત, જાતરૂપ (સુવર્ણાભ) અને ત્રણ શ્વેત।
Lord Agni (teaching the ritual procedure to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Kara-nyāsa/varṇa-nyāsa in Agneya-vidyā: placing mantra-uttāra and bīja-uttāra at the thumb-base on the palm with color-form visualization to energize subsequent pūjā and yantra work.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Kara-nyāsa: Uttāra and Bīja-uttāra at the Thumb-base with Varṇa-rūpa Colors","lookup_keywords":["kara-nyasa","uttara","bija-uttara","tala-angushtha","varna-rupa"],"quick_summary":"Install the mantra’s ‘uttāra’ and then the bīja’s ‘uttāra’ at the palm’s thumb-base, visualizing the prescribed color-forms; this standardizes the energetic mapping before anga/varṇa-nyāsa and deity-installation."}
Concept: Śabda (bīja/varṇa) is made operative through nyāsa and rūpa-dhyāna (color-form cognition), linking body-microcosm to mantra-power.
Application: Use consistent loci (thumb-base) and vivid varṇa-dhyāna to stabilize attention (bhāva-buddhi) and reduce ritual error in mantra-prayoga.
Khanda Section: Mantra-nyasa and Yantra/Tantra Prayoga (Agneya-vidya)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sādhaka seated in pūjā posture, focusing on the palm near the thumb-base, mentally placing mantra-uttāra and bīja-uttāra while six color-aura bands (red, pale-yellow, smoky, greenish, golden, and three whites) radiate from the hand.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat yet rich colors, sādhaka with sacred thread and rudrākṣa, close-up of right palm at thumb-base glowing with layered varṇa colors (red, pale-yellow, smoky grey, green, gold, three white rays), minimal background with lamp and lotus motif.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, ornate gold leaf highlights on the palm aura and bīja glyph, sādhaka seated before a small altar, thick outlines, jewel-like colors, three white halos rendered as pearl-like arcs, gold emphasizing ‘jātarūpa’ hue.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, delicate linework, instructional composition showing the palm diagram with thumb-base marked, small Sanskrit bīja near the locus, soft gradients for the listed colors, calm ritual setting.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, fine detailing of the hand and palm creases, the sādhaka in a quiet chamber with incense, translucent washes showing the color-forms emanating from the thumb-base, annotated margins with tiny glyphs."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तलेङ्गुष्ठे = तले अङ्गुष्ठे; तदुत्तारम् = तत् उत्तारम्; वीजोत्तारम् = वीज-उत्तारम्; हरिज्जातरूपाः = हरित्-जातरूपाः (त् + ज → ज्ज); सितास्त्रयः = सिताः त्रयः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 302.7; Agni Purana 302.8; Agni Purana 302.9; Agni Purana 302.10
FAQs
It teaches a specific nyāsa placement on the palm near the thumb, instructing the practitioner to ‘raise/utter’ the mantra and then the bīja-uttāra, along with the corresponding color/form assignments used in visualization.
Beyond myth and devotion, it preserves operational tantric-ritual detail—hand-location nyāsa, bīja handling, and dhyāna color taxonomy—showing the text’s coverage of practical mantra-śāstra alongside other sciences.
Correct nyāsa and bīja-utterance are treated as making the mantra ‘awake’ and properly embodied in the practitioner, supporting purity of practice, focus in worship, and the intended ritual efficacy (siddhi).