Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 41
Tvaritā-pūjā (The Worship of Tvaritā) — Transition Verse and Context
मोहणी मोक्षणी चैव ज्वालिनी चामृताभया प्रणीताः पञ्चमुद्रास्तु पूजाहोमे च योजयेत्
mohaṇī mokṣaṇī caiva jvālinī cāmṛtābhayā praṇītāḥ pañcamudrāstu pūjāhome ca yojayet
ມຸດຣາຫ້າຢ່າງ—Mohanī, Mokṣaṇī, Jvālinī, Amṛtā, ແລະ Abhayā—ໄດ້ຖືກກຳນົດໄວ້ແລ້ວ; ຄວນນຳໄປໃຊ້ທັງໃນພິທີບູຊາ (pūjā) ແລະ ພິທີໂຮມ (homa) ບູຊາໄຟ.
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Operational guidance: apply five named mudrās during both pūjā and homa to activate specific ritual effects (enchantment, liberation, blazing power, nectar/immortality, protection).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Five ritual mudrās for pūjā and homa: Mohanī, Mokṣaṇī, Jvālinī, Amṛtā, Abhayā","lookup_keywords":["mohani mudra","mokshani mudra","jvalini mudra","amrita mudra","abhaya mudra"],"quick_summary":"Lists five prescribed mudrās and instructs their use in both worship and fire-offering, indicating a standardized mudrā-set for the rite."}
Concept: Ritual gestures are functional operators: they modulate states—delusion/enchantment (mohanī), release (mokṣaṇī), fiery purification (jvālinī), nectar-like restoration (amṛtā), and fearlessness (abhayā).
Application: In homa, coordinate mudrā with offering and mantra-japa; in pūjā, coordinate mudrā with upacāra and nyāsa to maintain continuity of intent.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Homa-vidhi (Tantric ritual manual: mudrā-nyāsa and worship applications)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sādhaka performing pūjā before a deity and then homa at a fire-altar, showing five distinct hand-gestures labeled Mohanī, Mokṣaṇī, Jvālinī, Amṛtā, Abhayā.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: split scene—left pūjā with lamps and flowers, right homa with stylized flames; priest hands in five mudrās shown as small sequential vignettes; earthy reds and yellows.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: central homa-kunda with gold flames; priest in silk, hands forming mudrās; deity panel above; gold embossing on ritual vessels; labels in fine script.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: didactic composition with five hand-gesture diagrams around a calm homa scene; clear contours; minimal ornament; emphasis on recognizability of each mudrā.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: intimate indoor ritual chamber; fire-altar, offerings, manuscript; five mudrās depicted in margin medallions; delicate shading and architectural detail."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चामृताभया → च + अमृताभया; पञ्चमुद्रास्तु → पञ्चमुद्राः + तु; पूजाहोमे → पूजा + होमे (dvandva in locative).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 309 (mudrā-lakṣaṇa series); Agni Purana 310–311 (Tvaritā ritual procedures where mudrās may be deployed)
FAQs
It prescribes a practical prayoga: five specific ritual mudrās (Mohanī, Mokṣaṇī, Jvālinī, Amṛtā, Abhayā) are to be performed as part of both pūjā and homa procedures.
By cataloging and standardizing specialized ritual technology (mudrā-prayoga) alongside other disciplines, it shows the Agni Purāṇa functioning as a compact manual of applied religious practice, not only narrative theology.
Using the prescribed mudrās is presented as a correctness-of-rite safeguard: it supports purification, protection (abhayā), energizing/ignition of offerings (jvālinī), and the intended transformative effects of worship and oblations.