Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 35
Tvaritā-pūjā (The Worship of Tvaritā) — Transition Verse and Context
ज्येष्टाग्रं निक्षिपेन्मध्ये भेदनी सा प्रकीर्तिता नाभिदेशे तु तां बद्ध्वा अङ्गुष्ठावुत्क्षिपेत्ततः
jyeṣṭāgraṃ nikṣipenmadhye bhedanī sā prakīrtitā nābhideśe tu tāṃ baddhvā aṅguṣṭhāvutkṣipettataḥ
人差し指の先を（手の形の）中央に置くのを「ベーダニー（Bhedanī）」という印と説く。それを臍の部位に定めたのち、親指を上方へ挙げよ。
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Yoga","practical_application":"Performance of Bhedanī-mudrā with locus at nābhi (navel) and subsequent thumb-raising; used to ‘pierce/open’ subtle knots and regulate prāṇa during mantra-sādhana.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Bhedanī-mudrā (nābhi-sthāna with thumb-raising)","lookup_keywords":["Bhedanī","mudrā","nābhi","aṅguṣṭha-utkṣepa","bandha"],"quick_summary":"Form Bhedanī by placing the tip of the index finger into the middle of the formation; hold it at the navel-region and then raise the thumbs upward to complete the seal."}
Concept: Nābhi as a key prāṇic hub; ‘bhedana’ implies controlled opening/piercing of obstruction through coordinated gesture and attention.
Application: While holding the mudrā at the navel, synchronize with steady breathing and mantra-japa to stabilize the ‘center’ (madhya) and reduce mental dispersion.
Khanda Section: Yoga & Tantra (Mudrā–Bandha / Subtle-body techniques)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A seated sādhaka forms Bhedanī with hands held at the navel; thumbs lifted upward, with a subtle lotus or wheel motif at the nābhi indicating the energetic center.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, sādhaka in padmāsana, hands at nābhi with thumbs raised, stylized nābhi-lotus in muted gold, temple lamp glow, earthy palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, ornate gold work highlighting the nābhi-lotus and raised thumbs, rich maroon background, jewelry and sacred thread, crisp gesture emphasis.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear instructional rendering of Bhedanī finger placement, gentle gradients, visible nābhi focus point, minimal distractions.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, sādhaka on a terrace with fine textiles, hands at abdomen with thumbs up, delicate circular motif at navel, soft sky wash."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: nikṣipenmadhye = nikṣipet + madhye; nābhideśe = nābhi + deśe; aṅguṣṭhāvutkṣipet = aṅguṣṭhau + utkṣipet.
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa 309 (mudrā names and their body-loci: hṛdaya, nābhi, maṇibandha)
FAQs
It teaches the formation and application of the Bhedanī Mudrā: positioning the index fingertip centrally, holding the gesture at the navel region, and then lifting the thumbs—an applied yogic/tantric hand-seal practice.
Beyond myth and devotion, the Agni Purana preserves practical technical material—here, a precise yogic mudrā procedure—showing its coverage of embodied disciplines (tantra/yoga) alongside ritual, polity, medicine, and arts.
Mudrā practice is traditionally held to regulate prāṇa and focus the mind; fixing the gesture at the navel (a key prāṇic center) is intended to support inner steadiness and purification through disciplined bodily control.