Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 40
Explanation of the Vāsudeva and Related Mantras (वासुदेवादिमन्त्रनिरूपणम्)
अङ्गुष्ठादौ तले द्वौ च पादे जानुनि वै कटौ शिरःशिखरकट्याञ्च जानुपादादिषु न्यसेत्
aṅguṣṭhādau tale dvau ca pāde jānuni vai kaṭau śiraḥśikharakaṭyāñca jānupādādiṣu nyaset
അംഗുഷ്ഠം മുതലാക്കി ഇരുകൈത്തളങ്ങളിൽ, അതുപോലെ പാദങ്ങളിൽ, മുട്ടുകളിൽ, കട്ടിയിൽ; കൂടാതെ ശിരസ്സിൽ, ശിഖയിൽ, നിതംബങ്ങളിൽ—ഇങ്ങനെ മുട്ട്, പാദം മുതലായ അവയവങ്ങളിൽ ന്യാസം ചെയ്യണം।
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in ritual procedure)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Anga-nyasa mapping: place mantras on specified limbs (thumb onward, palms, feet, knees, waist, head, shikha, hips) to consecrate the body as a mantra-mandala for worship and protection.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Anga-nyasa limb sequence (thumb, palms, feet, knees, waist, head, shikha, hips)","lookup_keywords":["anga-nyasa","thumb","palms","shikha","limb-placement"],"quick_summary":"A procedural list of body locations for nyasa; correct placement order stabilizes ritual precision and is used before/within mantra-japa and deity-invocation."}
Concept: Body as a structured locus for mantra (nyasa turns limbs into sacred seats of power).
Application: Follow consistent limb-order to reduce distraction, enhance dharana, and maintain ritual correctness across daily puja.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Nyasa-vidhi (Tantric ritual placement of mantras)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Diagram-like ritual scene showing a practitioner touching thumb, palms, feet, knees, waist, head, shikha, and hips in sequence as mantra placements.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, frontal seated practitioner, clear hand gestures to thumb and palms, stylized body with highlighted limb points, oil lamp and temple wall motifs, bold outlines","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, worshipper with ornate jewelry and sacred thread, gold-highlighted limb points (thumb/palms/head/shikha), temple arch and lotus motifs, rich gilding","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style instructional plate: elegant figure with annotated limb points (thumb, palms, feet, knees, waist, head, shikha, hips), soft shading, clean composition","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, physician-like precision but ritual context: a pandit demonstrating nyasa to a disciple, limb points subtly emphasized, fine textiles and manuscript-like margins"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अङ्गुष्ठादौ = अङ्गुष्ठ-आदि (तत्पुरुष) + सप्तमी एकवचन; शिरःशिखरकट्याञ्च→शिरः शिखर कट्याम् च; जानुपादादिषु→जानु पाद आदि-षु; (ततः sandhi not present here).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 25.39 (Vishnu-nama-nyasa); Agni Purana 25.43 (bhuta-nyasa; ten placements from thumb)
FAQs
It teaches nyāsa: the systematic placement/assignment of mantras onto specific body parts (palms, feet, knees, waist/hips, head and śikhā) as part of mantra-pūjā and protective consecration (aṅga/kara/pāda-nyāsa).
Beyond mythology, it preserves practical liturgical technology—precise bodily locations and sequencing for mantra-installation—showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of applied ritual science alongside other domains like polity, medicine, and arts.
Nyāsa is intended to sacralize the practitioner’s body as a fit vessel for worship, strengthen mantra-efficacy, and provide ritual purification and protective merit by aligning speech, mind, and body with the invoked deity/power.