Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 14
Rudra-śānti (रुद्रशान्ति)
मायाप्रसादप्रणवेनांशकः ख्यातमन्त्रके ब्रह्मांशको ब्रह्मविद्या विष्ण्वङ्गो वैष्णवःस्मृतः
māyāprasādapraṇavenāṃśakaḥ khyātamantrake brahmāṃśako brahmavidyā viṣṇvaṅgo vaiṣṇavaḥsmṛtaḥ
ಪ್ರಸಿದ್ಧ ಮಂತ್ರವರ್ಗದಲ್ಲಿ, ಪ್ರಣವ (ಓಂ) ಜೊತೆಗೆ ‘ಮಾಯಾ’ ಮತ್ತು ‘ಪ್ರಸಾದ’ ಬೀಜಾಕ್ಷರಗಳು ಸಂಯುಕ್ತವಾದ ಮಂತ್ರವನ್ನು ‘ಅಂಶಕ’ ಮಂತ್ರವೆಂದು ಕರೆಯುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಬ್ರಹ್ಮಾಂಶವಾದುದು ‘ಬ್ರಹ್ಮವಿದ್ಯೆ’; ವಿಷ್ಣುವಿನ ಅಂಗವಾದುದು ‘ವೈಷ್ಣವ’ ಎಂದು ಸ್ಮೃತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಹೇಳಲಾಗಿದೆ.
Lord Agni (narrating the mantra-taxonomy to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Classify mantras by bīja-composition and deity-association: identify an aṃśaka-mantra via praṇava plus māyā and prasāda bījas; distinguish Brahmā-portion (brahma-vidyā) and Viṣṇu-limb (vaiṣṇava) mantras for correct prayoga and nyāsa.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Aṃśaka-Mantra and Deity-Portion Classifications (Brahma-vidyā, Vaiṣṇava)","lookup_keywords":["praṇava","māyā-bīja","prasāda-bīja","aṃśaka-mantra","vaiṣṇava-mantra"],"quick_summary":"Mantras are grouped by their seed-syllable makeup and divine affiliation: praṇava combined with māyā and prasāda forms an aṃśaka type; mantras tied to Brahmā are termed brahma-vidyā, and those functioning as Viṣṇu’s limb are called vaiṣṇava."}
Concept: Devata-tādātmya through mantra: bīja-composition signals the mantra’s ontological affiliation (aṃśa/aṅga) and governs ritual deployment.
Application: Choose mantra sets for pūjā, nyāsa, and homa according to devatā-bheda; keep praṇava-bīja combinations consistent with the intended deity and prayoga.
Khanda Section: Mantra-vidya / Tantra (Mantra classification and deity-association)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: śānta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual chart showing ‘Oṃ’ at the center, joined with two bīja nodes labeled ‘māyā’ and ‘prasāda’, branching into two panels: Brahmā-vidyā on one side and Vaiṣṇava (Viṣṇu-aṅga) on the other, with subtle deity emblems (lotus, conch).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, sacred yantra-like diagram with Oṃ central, two bīja petals for māyā and prasāda, flanked by stylized Brahmā and Viṣṇu emblems, flat iconic geometry, temple-wall colors.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-leaf yantra with Oṃ and bīja syllables, small seated Brahmā and Viṣṇu in side medallions, ornate borders, rich lacquered reds and greens, devotional instructional composition.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean didactic chart: labeled bīja-combination forming aṃśaka-mantra, arrows to Brahma-vidyā and Vaiṣṇava categories, fine linework and soft shading.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature of a scholar presenting a classification scroll with calligraphic Oṃ and bīja syllables, small symbolic depictions of Brahmā and Viṣṇu in margins, delicate illumination and patterned border."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: प्रणवेनांशकः = प्रणवेन + अंशकः; विष्ण्वङ्गः = विष्णु + अङ्गः; वैष्णवःस्मृतः = वैष्णवः + स्मृतः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 324 (mantra-bheda, bīja, devatā-saṃbandha)
FAQs
It gives a technical taxonomy of mantras—defining an Aṃśaka-mantra as formed with the Praṇava alongside ‘māyā’ and ‘prasāda’ seed-syllables, and distinguishing Brahma-vidyā and Vaiṣṇava mantras by their deity-affiliation (Brahmā-portion vs. Viṣṇu-limb).
By cataloging mantra-types and linking them to specific deities, it functions like a reference manual for ritual specialists—one of the Agni Purana’s hallmark encyclopedic features alongside its surveys of polity, medicine, architecture, and poetics.
Correctly identifying a mantra’s class and presiding deity is presented as essential for proper japa and ritual deployment, aligning worship with the intended divine power and thereby supporting efficacy, purification, and merit.