Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 20
Tvaritā-pūjā (The Worship of Tvaritā) — Transition Verse and Context
पञ्चषष्ठः शिखा प्रोक्ता कवचं सप्तमाष्टमम् तारकन्तु भवेन्नेत्रं नवार्धाक्षरलक्षणं
pañcaṣaṣṭhaḥ śikhā proktā kavacaṃ saptamāṣṭamam tārakantu bhavennetraṃ navārdhākṣaralakṣaṇaṃ
Mantra ke-65 dinyatakan sebagai mantra Śikhā (jambul mahkota); mantra ke-7 dan ke-8 menjadi Kavaca (perisai pelindung). Adapun Tāraka adalah mantra Netra (mata), berciri sembilan setengah satuan suku kata.
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Identifying which numbered mantra-units function as śikhā, kavaca, and netra within a larger vidyā-mantra corpus; used to assemble correct nyāsa/kavaca practice.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Nyāsa-aṅga mapping by mantra-number: Śikhā (65), Kavaca (7–8), Netra (Tāraka; 9½ akṣara)","lookup_keywords":["śikhā-mantra","kavaca-mantra","netra-mantra","tāraka","navārdhākṣara"],"quick_summary":"Defines which segments of a mantra-series are assigned to protective aṅgas and specifies the netra-mantra as the Tāraka with a nine-and-a-half syllabic measure."}
Concept: Ritual efficacy requires correct internal taxonomy: assigning mantra-parts to functional limbs (aṅgas) and respecting akṣara-lakṣaṇa (syllabic measure).
Application: When transmitting/receiving a vidyā, preserve its numbering and akṣara-count so that śikhā/kavaca/netra nyāsa is not corrupted.
Khanda Section: Mantra-vidya & Tantric Nyasa (Kavacha, Shikha, Netra)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A schematic depiction of a mantra-garland with numbered beads; specific beads highlighted as śikhā (65), kavaca (7–8), and netra (tāraka) with a 9½-syllable label.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural aesthetic applied to a symbolic diagram: stylized mantra-mālā with highlighted nodes, flame-like śikhā marker at top, eye symbol for netra, bold colors and temple-wall composition.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore iconographic diagram: ornate mantra-mālā with gold leaf on highlighted numbers, eye motif for netra, crown-lock flame motif for śikhā, rich decorative border.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore instructional plate: clean numbered sequence, calligraphic Sanskrit labels (śikhā, kavaca, netra, tāraka, navārdhākṣara), minimal figures, clarity prioritized.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature of a scholar pointing to a numbered rosary chart on paper, fine calligraphy, subtle shading, elegant margins, quiet study setting."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: saptama + aṣṭamam → saptamāṣṭamam; tārakam + tu → tārakantu; bhavet + netram → bhavennetraṃ (t/d assimilation).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 309.19 (aṅga-nyāsa details); Agni Purana mantra-lakṣaṇa passages on akṣara-count and bīja usage
FAQs
It classifies specific mantras by ritual function—Śikhā (head/crown placement), Kavaca (protective covering), and Netra (eye/awakening)—and gives a technical syllable-count marker for the Netra/Tāraka mantra.
It preserves a manual-like taxonomy of mantras used in nyāsa and protective rites, combining numbering, functional assignment (kavaca/śikhā/netra), and phonetic metrics (syllable count), reflecting the Agni Purana’s compendium style across ritual technologies.
Correct identification and placement of Śikhā, Kavaca, and Netra mantras is traditionally held to ‘seal’ the practitioner with protection, awaken mantra-power, and support purification and safe performance of worship or sādhana.