Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 16
Chapter 306 — त्रैलोक्यमोहनमन्त्राः
Mantras for Enchanting the Three Worlds
पञ्चवाणधरं प्राप्तकामैक्षं द्विचतुर्भुजम् देवस्त्रीभिर्वृतं देवीमुखासक्तेक्षणं जपेत्
pañcavāṇadharaṃ prāptakāmaikṣaṃ dvicaturbhujam devastrībhirvṛtaṃ devīmukhāsaktekṣaṇaṃ japet
五矢を執る神を観想しつつジャパを行うべし。その一瞥は願いを成就させ、二臂または四臂として示され、天女に囲まれ、眼は女神の面に注がれている。
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha, standard Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Japa-sādhana with kāma-devatā (five-arrow bearer) dhyāna: visualization of form (2/4 arms), entourage, and desire-fulfilling glance to focus intention and siddhi-oriented practice.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Japa with Pañcavāṇa-dhara dhyāna (Kāma)","lookup_keywords":["pañcavāṇa","japa","prāptakāma-īkṣa","dvi-catur-bhuja","devastrī-vṛta"],"quick_summary":"Perform mantra-japa while visualizing the five-arrow-bearing deity whose glance grants desires, depicted with two or four arms, attended by celestial women, gaze fixed on the Goddess—used for kāmya-siddhi and concentration."}
Concept: Kāmya-upāsanā: aligning visualization (dhyāna) with repetition (japa) to channel intention; deity’s gaze symbolizes saṅkalpa-siddhi.
Application: Before japa, form a clear mental image (rūpa-dhyāna), hold a specific saṅkalpa, then maintain steady repetition without breaking the visualization.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Mantra-japa and Deity-dhyana for Siddhi)
Primary Rasa: Shringara
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Kāma-deva holding five arrows, shown with two or four arms, surrounded by celestial women; his eyes lovingly fixed on the Goddess’s face while the practitioner performs japa.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Kāma with stylized bow and five floral arrows, attendants as devastrīs in symmetrical arrangement, expressive gaze toward Devī, ritualist seated with japa-mālā at edge, ornate floral background.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Kāma richly ornamented with gold-leaf accents, five arrows emphasized, devastrīs with jeweled attire, Devī’s face as focal point, small devotee with mālā, luminous halo effects.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean iconographic clarity: two/four-armed option indicated by composition, five arrows distinctly rendered, devotee performing japa, soft pastel palette and fine lines.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, romantic divine court, Kāma and Devī in refined profiles, attendants in detailed garments, devotee with rosary, delicate botanical motifs highlighting floral arrows."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kafi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: Sandhi resolved: pañcavāṇadharaṃ → pañca-vāṇa-dharam; prāptakāmaikṣaṃ → prāpta-kāma-īkṣam; dvicaturbhujam → dvi-catur-bhujam; devastrībhirvṛtaṃ → deva-strībhiḥ vṛtam; devīmukhāsaktekṣaṇaṃ → devī-mukha-āsakta-īkṣaṇam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 306 (pūjā-vidhi and dhyāna-lakṣaṇa for siddhi)
FAQs
It teaches a dhyāna-lakṣaṇa (visualization specification) to be held while doing mantra-japa: meditate on a five-arrow-bearing, desire-fulfilling deity with specified form (2/4 arms), attendants, and gaze-direction.
It exemplifies the Agni Purāṇa’s practical ritual manuals—precise iconographic and meditative cues that function like a technical specification for worship (pūjā/japa), alongside its many other domains (statecraft, medicine, poetics, etc.).
By aligning japa with a prescribed deity-form and focused contemplation, the practitioner is said to intensify mantra efficacy, aiming at kāmya-siddhi (desired attainments) while cultivating single-pointed devotion and mental purity.