Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 1
Chapter 312 — Various Mantras (नानामन्त्राः)
इत्य् आग्नेये महापुराणे त्वरिताविद्या नामैकादशाधिकत्रिशततमो ऽध्यायः अथ द्वादशाधिकत्रिशततमो ऽध्यायः नानामन्त्राः अग्निर् उवाच ॐ विनायकार्चनं वक्ष्ये यजेदाधारशक्तिकम् धर्माद्यष्टककन्दञ्च नालं पद्मञ्च कर्णिकाम्
ity āgneye mahāpurāṇe tvaritāvidyā nāmaikādaśādhikatriśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ atha dvādaśādhikatriśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ nānāmantrāḥ agnir uvāca oṃ vināyakārcanaṃ vakṣye yajedādhāraśaktikam dharmādyaṣṭakakandañca nālaṃ padmañca karṇikām
ഇങ്ങനെ അഗ്നി മഹാപുരാണത്തിലെ ‘ത്വരിതാവിദ്യ’ എന്ന 311-ാം അധ്യായം സമാപിച്ചു. ഇനി 312-ാം അധ്യായം ‘നാനാമന്ത്രങ്ങൾ’ ആരംഭിക്കുന്നു. അഗ്നി അരുളിച്ചെയ്തു—“ഓം, വിനായകാർചന ഞാൻ ഉപദേശിക്കുന്നു. ആധാരശക്തിയിൽ നിന്ന് ആരംഭിച്ച് ധർമാദി അഷ്ടകം, കൂടാതെ കന്ദം, നാളം, പദ്മം, കർണിക എന്നിവയും പൂജിക്കണം.”
Lord Agni
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Vinayaka-puja setup with bhuta-shuddhi/adhara-shakti and padma-nyasa (lotus-seat visualization) before mantra-japa and offerings.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Vinayaka-archana: Ādhāraśakti to Padma-karṇikā Nyāsa","lookup_keywords":["Vinayaka-archana","Ādhāraśakti","Dharma-ādi aṣṭaka","padma-nyāsa","karṇikā"],"quick_summary":"Begin Vinayaka worship by establishing Ādhāraśakti and the Dharma-ādi eightfold principles, then construct the inner lotus-seat (kanda–nāla–padma–karṇikā) as the ritual/meditative support for invocation."}
Concept: Ritual cosmologization: establishing supports (śakti, dharma-tattvas) and lotus-seat as the microcosmic basis for deity presence.
Application: Use stepwise nyāsa/visualization to stabilize attention and sanctify the worship-space before mantra and offerings.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Mantra-shastra (Vinayaka-archana; Nānāmantrāḥ)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual diagram: the worshipper establishes Ādhāraśakti below, then the Dharma-ādi eightfold circle, and in the center constructs a lotus with bulb, stalk, petals, and pericarp as Gaṇeśa’s seat.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat warm palette, priest performing Vinayaka-archana before a stylized yantra-lotus; concentric circles labeled Dharma-ādi; central padma with karṇikā glowing; traditional lamps and temple interior.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf highlights on the central lotus and karṇikā; Vinayaka invoked above the padma-seat; ornate arch, rich reds and greens, ritual vessels and flowers in foreground.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean linework instructional composition: labeled parts kanda, nāla, padma, karṇikā; priest in profile doing nyāsa; soft pastel background, precise geometry.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed courtly atelier look: a learned priest draws a lotus-maṇḍala on a low wooden board; fine calligraphy labels; subtle shading, textiles, incense smoke."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ity āgneye → iti āgneye; triśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ → triśatatamaḥ adhyāyaḥ; agnir uvāca → agniḥ uvāca; yajedādhāraśaktikam → yajet ādhāraśaktikam; dharmādyaṣṭakakandañca → dharma-ādi-aṣṭaka-kandaṃ ca; padmañca → padmaṃ ca.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Puja-vidhi sections on nyāsa, āvāhana, and maṇḍala construction (nearby chapters in the 300+ range); Agni Purana chapters on Tvaritā-vidyā (preceding 311) for tantric sequencing
FAQs
It introduces Vināyaka (Gaṇeśa) worship and specifies a tantric-style worship sequence: starting from Ādhāra-śakti, proceeding through the Dharmādi-aṣṭaka, and visualizing the lotus-seat structure (bulb, stalk, lotus, pericarp).
It shifts from one vidyā (Tvaritā-vidyā) into a new chapter on “various mantras,” cataloging practical ritual components—deity worship order, abstract principles (Dharmādi group), and mandala/lotus visualization—showing the text’s compendium-like coverage of mantra and pūjā technology.
Beginning rites with Vināyaka and the foundational Ādhāra-śakti is traditionally meant to remove obstacles, stabilize the ritual field, and make subsequent worship effective—thereby supporting purity of intention and successful completion of religious acts.