Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 14
Rudra-śānti (रुद्रशान्ति)
मायाप्रसादप्रणवेनांशकः ख्यातमन्त्रके ब्रह्मांशको ब्रह्मविद्या विष्ण्वङ्गो वैष्णवःस्मृतः
māyāprasādapraṇavenāṃśakaḥ khyātamantrake brahmāṃśako brahmavidyā viṣṇvaṅgo vaiṣṇavaḥsmṛtaḥ
പ്രസിദ്ധമായ മന്ത്രവർഗത്തിൽ, പ്രണവം (ഓം) കൂടെ ‘മായാ’യും ‘പ്രസാദ’വും എന്ന ബീജാക്ഷരങ്ങൾ ചേർന്ന മന്ത്രം ‘അംശക’മന്ത്രം എന്നു വിളിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു. ബ്രഹ്മയുടെ അംശമായത് ‘ബ്രഹ്മവിദ്യ’; വിഷ്ണുവിന്റെ അംഗമായത് സ്മൃതിയിൽ ‘വൈഷ്ണവ’മായി സ്മരിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു.
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.