Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 39
Tvaritā-pūjā (The Worship of Tvaritā) — Transition Verse and Context
अङ्गुष्ठेनाक्रमेत् त्रीणि त्रिशूलञ्चोर्ध्वतो भवेत् एका तु मध्यमोर्ध्वा तु शक्तिरेव विधीयते
aṅguṣṭhenākramet trīṇi triśūlañcordhvato bhavet ekā tu madhyamordhvā tu śaktireva vidhīyate
ដោយមេដៃ គួរចុច/សម្គាល់ចំណុចបី; លើសពីនោះ បង្កើតសញ្ញាត្រីសូល (trident) ឲ្យឈរ។ សញ្ញាមួយនៅកណ្ដាល ហើយសញ្ញាខាងលើ ត្រូវបានកំណត់ថាជា «សក្តិ» (śakti—ស្នែង/សញ្ញាថាមពល)។
Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purana narrator) instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Thumb-pressing and line/mark placement for forming a trident-sign and śakti-mark in ritual diagrams or body-nyāsa, ensuring correct symbolic geometry.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Trident (triśūla) and Śakti-mark formation by thumb-pressing","lookup_keywords":["angushtha-krama","trishula-lakshana","shakti-rekha","mudra-marking","nyasa-marks"],"quick_summary":"Gives a compact procedure: press three points with the thumb, form an upward triśūla above, and place a central mark with an upper ‘śakti’ mark—used for precise ritual sign-making."}
Weapon Type: Trident (triśūla), spear/śakti
Concept: Power is encoded through signs (cihna) and placement; correct geometry is a carrier of mantra-śakti.
Application: When drawing yantra/placing nyāsa marks, follow the prescribed order (three presses → triśūla above → central and upper śakti) to maintain ritual efficacy.
Khanda Section: Tantra & Yantra—Mudrā/Mantra-vidhi (Agneya-vidyā / Īśāna-kalpa type ritual-technical section)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A hand using the thumb to press three points on a surface; above them an upward trident-sign appears; a central line/mark and an upper ‘śakti’ mark are highlighted.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, bold outlines: close-up of thumb pressing three bindu points on a yantra field; glowing triśūla above; stylized śakti mark at top; red-ochre background with lotus motifs.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style with gold bindu points and gilded triśūla; the śakti mark rendered as a luminous spear-like glyph; ornate frame and temple lamps.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore instructional painting: step-by-step panels—(1) three thumb-press bindus, (2) triśūla drawn above, (3) middle mark, (4) upper śakti; neat Sanskrit captions.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: artisan-sādhaka drawing on a small board; delicate triśūla glyph; fine stippling for the three pressed points; floral border."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अङ्गुष्ठेनाक्रमेत् → अङ्गुष्ठेन + आक्रमेत्; त्रिशूलञ्चोर्ध्वतो → त्रिशूलम् + च + ऊर्ध्वतः; मध्यमोर्ध्वा → मध्यम-ऊर्ध्वा.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 309 (Mudrā/cihna-lakṣaṇa sequence); Agni Purana 311 (Tvaritā yantra/rekhā drawing instructions)
FAQs
It teaches a precise ritual marking/gesture: using the thumb to press three points and then forming an upward trident-sign, with a designated middle mark and an upper ‘śakti’ mark—used in mudrā/nyāsa-style procedures.
Beyond mythology, it preserves practical liturgical technology—how to physically execute symbolic signs (triśūla, śakti) in worship—showing the text’s coverage of tantric-ritual method alongside theology.
Such prescribed markings function as consecrating and protective acts in ritual—aligning the practitioner with the deity’s power (śakti) and invoking auspicious, warding symbolism (triśūla) for purification and safeguarding.