Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 16
Chapter 347: One-syllable Appellations (एकाक्षराभिधानम्)
प्रचण्डा सुरनायिका उग्रा पार्वती दुर्गया ॐ चण्डिकायै विद्महे भगवत्यै धीमहि तन्नो दुर्गा प्रचोदयात् क्रमादि तु षडङ्गं स्याद्गणो गुरुर्गुरुः क्रमात्
pracaṇḍā suranāyikā ugrā pārvatī durgayā oṃ caṇḍikāyai vidmahe bhagavatyai dhīmahi tanno durgā pracodayāt kramādi tu ṣaḍaṅgaṃ syādgaṇo gururguruḥ kramāt
वह प्रचण्डा, देवों की नायिका, उग्रा, पार्वती और दुर्गा है। “ॐ—हम चण्डिका को जानते हैं, भगवती का ध्यान करते हैं; वह दुर्गा हमें प्रेरित करे।” क्रम से षडङ्ग-न्यास किया जाए; छन्द का गण-क्रम ‘गुरु-गुरु’ है।
Lord Agni (in dialogue with sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa narration)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Durga/Chandika Gayatri-japa with ṣaḍaṅga-nyāsa and chandas/gaṇa awareness for correct ritual recitation.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Mantra","entry_title":"Caṇḍikā (Durgā) Gāyatrī with Ṣaḍaṅga-nyāsa and Gaṇa note","lookup_keywords":["Chandika Gayatri","Durgā gāyatrī","ṣaḍaṅga nyāsa","aṅga-vinyāsa","gaṇa guru-guru"],"quick_summary":"Gives the Caṇḍikā/Durgā gāyatrī and instructs applying ṣaḍaṅga-nyāsa in sequence; also flags a gaṇa-pattern (guru-guru) to preserve metrical correctness in japa."}
Concept: Mantra-sādhana requires both bhāva (devatā-dhyāna) and vidhi (nyāsa/chandas-śuddhi) for siddhi.
Application: Before japa, perform ṣaḍaṅga-nyāsa in order; keep mantra syllables and gaṇa intact to avoid chandas-doṣa.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Durga/Chandika Mantra-Vidya and Nyasa/Anga-Vinyasa)
Primary Rasa: Vira
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A Śākta pūjā setting: the sādhaka seated before a Durgā/Chandika yantra or image, performing ṣaḍaṅga-nyāsa (touching head, mouth, heart, etc.) while reciting the Caṇḍikā gāyatrī; aura of fierce protection around the Goddess.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, deep mineral reds and greens, Caṇḍikā/Durgā as fierce yet auspicious, sādhaka doing ṣaḍaṅga-nyāsa gestures, yantra and lamps, bold outlines, sacred symmetry","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold leaf, central Durgā/Chandika enthroned, halo and ornate jewelry, foreground priest performing nyāsa with mudrā, mantra text band, rich maroons and greens","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, clean linework and soft shading, instructional depiction of ṣaḍaṅga-nyāsa touch-points labeled subtly, Durgā icon in background, calm ritual interior","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed courtly interior adapted as shrine room, sādhaka in profile performing nyāsa, illuminated manuscript-like mantra panel, delicate floral borders, subdued yet vivid palette"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: स्याद्गणो = स्यात् + गणः; गुरुर्गुरुः = गुरुः + गुरुः (visarga sandhi); षडङ्गं = षड् + अङ्गम्; तन्नो = तत् + नः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 347 (Pūjā-vidhi: nyāsa, mantra, devī-upāsanā)
FAQs
It gives the Caṇḍikā–Durgā Gāyatrī-style mantra and indicates its ritual application through ṣaḍaṅga-nyāsa (six-limbed placement) performed in a fixed sequence, along with a brief metrical/prosodic note (gaṇa: guru-guru).
Besides devotion to the Goddess, it preserves practical ritual technology (mantra structure, nyāsa procedure) and even touches chandas/prosody (gaṇa), showing the Agni Purāṇa’s range from theology to applied liturgy and technical Sanskritic disciplines.
Meditating on Bhagavatī Durgā through her mantra and correctly performed nyāsa is presented as a disciplined means of protection, purification, and inner empowerment—invoking the Goddess to ‘impel’ the practitioner’s intellect and spiritual resolve.