Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 6
Worship by Limb-Syllables
Aṅgākṣara-arcana
तलेङ्गुष्ठे तदुत्तारं वीजोत्तारं ततो न्यसेत् रक्तगौरधूम्रहरिज्जातरूपाः सितास्त्रयः
taleṅguṣṭhe taduttāraṃ vījottāraṃ tato nyaset raktagauradhūmraharijjātarūpāḥ sitāstrayaḥ
ಕೈತಳದಲ್ಲಿ ಅಂಗುಷ್ಠಮೂಲದಲ್ಲಿ ಮೊದಲು ಆ (ಮಂತ್ರದ) ‘ಉತ್ತಾರ’ವನ್ನು ನ್ಯಾಸ ಮಾಡಬೇಕು; ನಂತರ ಬೀಜಾಕ್ಷರದ ‘ಉತ್ತಾರ’ವನ್ನು ಸ್ಥಾಪಿಸಬೇಕು. ಸಂಬಂಧಿತ ರೂಪ/ವರ್ಣಗಳು—ರಕ್ತ, ಗೌರ, ಧೂಮ್ರ, ಹರಿತ, ಸ್ವರ್ಣವರ್ಣ, ಹಾಗೂ ಮೂರು ಶ್ವೇತಗಳು.
Lord Agni (teaching the ritual procedure to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Kara-nyāsa/varṇa-nyāsa in Agneya-vidyā: placing mantra-uttāra and bīja-uttāra at the thumb-base on the palm with color-form visualization to energize subsequent pūjā and yantra work.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Kara-nyāsa: Uttāra and Bīja-uttāra at the Thumb-base with Varṇa-rūpa Colors","lookup_keywords":["kara-nyasa","uttara","bija-uttara","tala-angushtha","varna-rupa"],"quick_summary":"Install the mantra’s ‘uttāra’ and then the bīja’s ‘uttāra’ at the palm’s thumb-base, visualizing the prescribed color-forms; this standardizes the energetic mapping before anga/varṇa-nyāsa and deity-installation."}
Concept: Śabda (bīja/varṇa) is made operative through nyāsa and rūpa-dhyāna (color-form cognition), linking body-microcosm to mantra-power.
Application: Use consistent loci (thumb-base) and vivid varṇa-dhyāna to stabilize attention (bhāva-buddhi) and reduce ritual error in mantra-prayoga.
Khanda Section: Mantra-nyasa and Yantra/Tantra Prayoga (Agneya-vidya)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sādhaka seated in pūjā posture, focusing on the palm near the thumb-base, mentally placing mantra-uttāra and bīja-uttāra while six color-aura bands (red, pale-yellow, smoky, greenish, golden, and three whites) radiate from the hand.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat yet rich colors, sādhaka with sacred thread and rudrākṣa, close-up of right palm at thumb-base glowing with layered varṇa colors (red, pale-yellow, smoky grey, green, gold, three white rays), minimal background with lamp and lotus motif.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, ornate gold leaf highlights on the palm aura and bīja glyph, sādhaka seated before a small altar, thick outlines, jewel-like colors, three white halos rendered as pearl-like arcs, gold emphasizing ‘jātarūpa’ hue.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, delicate linework, instructional composition showing the palm diagram with thumb-base marked, small Sanskrit bīja near the locus, soft gradients for the listed colors, calm ritual setting.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, fine detailing of the hand and palm creases, the sādhaka in a quiet chamber with incense, translucent washes showing the color-forms emanating from the thumb-base, annotated margins with tiny glyphs."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तलेङ्गुष्ठे = तले अङ्गुष्ठे; तदुत्तारम् = तत् उत्तारम्; वीजोत्तारम् = वीज-उत्तारम्; हरिज्जातरूपाः = हरित्-जातरूपाः (त् + ज → ज्ज); सितास्त्रयः = सिताः त्रयः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 302.7; Agni Purana 302.8; Agni Purana 302.9; Agni Purana 302.10
FAQs
It teaches a specific nyāsa placement on the palm near the thumb, instructing the practitioner to ‘raise/utter’ the mantra and then the bīja-uttāra, along with the corresponding color/form assignments used in visualization.
Beyond myth and devotion, it preserves operational tantric-ritual detail—hand-location nyāsa, bīja handling, and dhyāna color taxonomy—showing the text’s coverage of practical mantra-śāstra alongside other sciences.
Correct nyāsa and bīja-utterance are treated as making the mantra ‘awake’ and properly embodied in the practitioner, supporting purity of practice, focus in worship, and the intended ritual efficacy (siddhi).