Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 21
Derivation
Uddhāra) of the Sakalādi Mantra (सकलादिमन्त्रोद्धारः
निष्कलो भुक्तिमुक्तौ स्यात्पञ्चाङ्गो ऽयं सदाशिवः अंशुमान् विश्वरूपञ्च आवृतं शून्यरञ्जितम्
niṣkalo bhuktimuktau syātpañcāṅgo 'yaṃ sadāśivaḥ aṃśumān viśvarūpañca āvṛtaṃ śūnyarañjitam
ನಿಷ್ಕಲ ಸ್ವರೂಪದಲ್ಲಿ ಆತನು ಭೋಗವೂ ಮೋಕ್ಷವೂ ಎರಡನ್ನೂ ದಯಪಾಲಿಸುತ್ತಾನೆ. ಈ ಸದಾಶಿವನು ಪಂಚಾಂಗವಾಗಿ ಪ್ರಕಾಶಿಸಿ, ಕಿರಣಮಯ, ವಿಶ್ವರೂಪ; ಶೂನ್ಯದಿಂದ ಆವೃತನಾದಂತೆ, ಶೂನ್ಯತೆಯಿಂದ ರಂಜಿತನಾದಂತೆ ಕಾಣುತ್ತಾನೆ.
Lord Agni (narrating Agni Purana’s Shaiva-tattva material to sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Meditative understanding of Sadāśiva’s niṣkala (transcendent) and pañcāṅga (fivefold) modes to align worship/visualization with the intended soteriological goal (bhukti or mukti).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Sadāśiva: Niṣkala and Pañcāṅga (Fivefold) Manifestation","lookup_keywords":["Sadashiva","nishkala","panchanga","vishvarupa","shunya"],"quick_summary":"Defines Sadāśiva as partless (niṣkala) yet fivefold in manifestation, simultaneously granting worldly fruition and liberation; the ‘void-tinge’ indicates appearance under veiling while remaining radiant and all-pervasive."}
Alamkara Type: Virodha (paradox)
Concept: Niṣkala–sakala polarity: the Absolute grants both bhukti and mukti; manifestation is fivefold while essence remains partless; ‘śūnya’ indicates veiling/appearance, not ultimate negation.
Application: Choose worship-mode: niṣkala-dhyāna for liberation-oriented absorption; pañcāṅga/sakala contemplation for ritual completeness while remembering transcendence.
Khanda Section: Shaiva-Tantra / Sadashiva-Tattva (Ishana-kalpa thematic stream)
Primary Rasa: Adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: Shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A cosmic Sadāśiva: radiant, universe-bodied, suggested as fivefold emanation, with a subtle veil of ‘void’ around Him—formless essence hinted behind a luminous cosmic form.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural of Sadāśiva as viśvarūpa, fivefold aura bands, luminous gold-white radiance, subtle dark-blue void halo as āvaraṇa, serene śānta expression, traditional flat perspective, ornate borders","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting of Sadāśiva cosmic form with heavy gold leaf prabhāmaṇḍala, fivefold emanation motifs, gem inlay effect, faint dark backdrop indicating śūnya-āvaraṇa, symmetrical devotional composition","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting emphasizing doctrinal diagram: Sadāśiva center with fivefold rays/emanations labeled, soft shading, clean linework, instructional iconographic chart aesthetic","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature of a luminous cosmic deity filling the frame, delicate cloud-and-void gradients, fine detailing of universal elements within the body, restrained palette with gold highlights, contemplative courtly style"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: syātpañcāṅgo → syāt pañcāṅgaḥ; 'yaṃ = ayam; viśvarūpañca → viśvarūpam ca; śūnyarञ्जितम् → śūnya-rañjitam (compound).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 316 (Shaiva-Tantra / Sadāśiva-tattva stream); Agni Purana sections on pañcabrahma/Śiva-tattva and liṅga-pūjā (general Shaiva material)
FAQs
It conveys Shaiva-tattva vidyā: the distinction of Sadāśiva as niṣkala (attribute-free) who grants both bhukti (worldly fruition) and mukti (liberation), alongside His pañcāṅga (fivefold) mode of manifestation used in tantric-theological mapping of Śiva’s forms.
Beyond mythic narration, it preserves systematic metaphysics—defining divine ontology (niṣkala/sakala), soteriology (bhukti–mukti), and cosmology (viśvarūpa). This illustrates how the Agni Purana functions as a compendium of ritual-theological and philosophical categories.
It frames Sadāśiva as the ultimate refuge: devotion and contemplative alignment with the niṣkala reality is taught as a path that can yield both legitimate worldly results and final release, with ‘void’ imagery emphasizing transcendence beyond ordinary conceptual grasp.