Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 13
The Root-Mantra of Tvaritā
Tvaritā-mūla-mantra
विषरक्तेन संलिख्य श्मशाने कर्परे बुधः षट्कोणं दण्डमाक्रान्तं समन्ताच्छक्तियोजितम्
viṣaraktena saṃlikhya śmaśāne karpare budhaḥ ṣaṭkoṇaṃ daṇḍamākrāntaṃ samantācchaktiyojitam
બુદ્ધિમાન સાધકે શ્મશાનમાં કર્પર (પાત્રખંડ) પર વિષમિશ્રિત રક્તથી લખવું—દંડચિહ્નથી આક્રાંત/અધિષ્ઠિત ષટ્કોણ, અને ચારે તરફ શક્તિઓથી યુક્ત।
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s ritual-technical sections)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Abhicāra-oriented yantra inscription using transgressive materials (poison-blood) on a potsherd in śmaśāna, forming a ṣaṭkoṇa with staff-mark and surrounding śakti markers.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Śmaśāna-kapāla/kārpara ṣaṭkoṇa-yantra: viṣa-rakta-lekhana with śakti-parivāra","lookup_keywords":["śmaśāna sādhana","viṣa-rakta","kārpara","ṣaṭkoṇa yantra","śakti-yukta"],"quick_summary":"In cremation-ground practice, inscribe a hexagonal yantra on a potsherd using poison-mixed blood, add a staff-overmark, and place śakti-signs around it to empower the rite."}
Concept: Ugra-sādhana employs liminal space and potent substances to intensify mantra-śakti through fearlessness and strict ritual containment.
Application: If studying historically, treat as a model of ‘place + medium + geometry + āvaraṇa’ as the fourfold structure of tantric operation (without endorsing harmful acts).
Khanda Section: Isana-kalpa / Tantra-mantra (Yantra-lekhana in śmaśāna-sādhana context)
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"At night in a cremation-ground, an adept inscribes a hexagonal yantra on a potsherd using dark red ink, a staff-like mark crossing it, with small śakti symbols arranged around the perimeter.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, nocturnal śmaśāna with stylized flames and banyan silhouettes, adept drawing ṣaṭkoṇa on potsherd, ring of śakti glyphs, dramatic contrasts","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central yantra on a shard with gold outlining the hexagon and śakti ring, dark background suggesting cremation-ground, minimal figures, ornate border","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, precise geometric rendering of ṣaṭkoṇa and daṇḍa-overmark, annotated śakti placements, subdued cremation-ground backdrop","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed cremation-ground scene with a scholar-adept crouched over a shard, fine red-black inkwork forming the hexagon, small symbols encircling, moonlit atmosphere"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"intense","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: daṇḍamākrāntaṃ → daṇḍam + ākrāntam; samantācchaktiyojitam → samantāt + śakti-yojitam (t→cch sandhi)
Related Themes: Agni Purana 311 (śmaśāna-yantra and abhicāra sequence)
FAQs
It teaches yantra-lekhana: drawing a ṣaṭkoṇa (hexagonal/hexagram) diagram on a potsherd in a śmaśāna, using poison-mixed blood, and completing it with daṇḍa-marking and surrounding śakti-elements for a forceful ritual application.
Beyond mythology, the Agni Purana preserves practical ritual technologies—materials, locations, and geometric constructions (yantras)—showing its wide scope across mantra, tantra, and applied ceremonial procedures.
Because it specifies a cremation-ground setting and transgressive materials, it signals a high-intensity rite traditionally treated as potent but hazardous; its significance lies in channeling śakti through strict procedure, implying serious ethical and karmic responsibility for the practitioner.