Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 8
Chapter 72 — स्नानविशेषादिकथनम्
Special Rules of Bathing, Mantra-Purification, and Sandhyā
वामपाणितले कुर्याद्भागत्रयमुदङ्मुखः अङ्गैर् दक्षिणमेकाद्यं पूर्वमस्त्रेण सप्तधा
vāmapāṇitale kuryādbhāgatrayamudaṅmukhaḥ aṅgair dakṣiṇamekādyaṃ pūrvamastreṇa saptadhā
ഉത്തരമുഖനായി ഇടത് കൈയുടെ കരതലത്തിൽ മൂന്ന് ഭാഗങ്ങൾ നിർണ്ണയിക്കണം. തുടർന്ന് വലതുവശത്ത് ആദ്യ അംഗം മുതലാക്കി ന്യാസം ചെയ്യണം; കിഴക്ക് (മുൻ) ഭാഗത്ത് അസ്ത്രമന്ത്രം ഏഴുതവണ വിന്യസിക്കണം।
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha, as typical for Agni Purāṇa ritual-vidhi sections)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Hand-nyāsa/karanyāsa-like mapping: divide left palm into three parts facing north; perform aṅga-nyāsa on the right beginning with the first aṅga; apply astra-mantra seven times to the eastern/front side for protection.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Palm Division and Sevenfold Astra-nyāsa (Facing North)","lookup_keywords":["karanyāsa","aṅga-nyāsa","astra-mantra","saptadhā","udak-mukha"],"quick_summary":"Facing north, mark three divisions on the left palm; then place aṅgas on the right in order and seal the front/eastern side with the astra-mantra repeated sevenfold."}
Weapon Type: Astra (mantra-weapon)
Concept: Body and hand become the altar; directionality and number (three, seven) encode ritual order and protection.
Application: Use consistent orientation and counted repetitions to standardize nyāsa and avoid procedural faults in daily worship.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Mantra-nyasa and Mudra (Tantric ritual procedure)
Primary Rasa: Adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: Shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A practitioner facing north, left palm shown with three marked sections; right side receives sequential aṅga placements; a radiant protective ‘astra’ seal is applied seven times toward the front/east.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, didactic close-up of hands with three-part palm markings, north-facing figure, stylized compass directions, glowing astra seal in front, traditional pigments.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, ornate hand close-up with gold highlights on palm divisions, luminous astra emblem repeated seven times as small gold motifs, temple-tank backdrop.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore, instructional diagram-like painting: labeled three palm sections, sequence arrows for aṅga placements, seven astra stamps on the eastern/front side; refined lines.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholar-sādhaka seated, careful naturalistic hands, faint geometric overlays indicating three divisions and seven seals, architectural niche suggesting east direction."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"focused","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: kuryādbhāgatrayamudaṅmukhaḥ → kuryāt bhāga-trayam udaṅ-mukhaḥ; pūrvamastreṇa → pūrvam astreṇa.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 72 (nyāsa and mudrā details around snāna/pujā)
FAQs
It teaches a precise nyāsa-style procedure: dividing the left palm into three parts, orienting oneself northward, then applying aṅga-mantras and finally using the protective Astra-mantra in a sevenfold manner tied to directional placement.
Alongside theology and myth, the Agni Purāṇa preserves highly technical liturgical mechanics—directional rules, hand/palm layouts, mantra-sequencing, and protective formulae—showing it functions as a practical manual for ritual technology.
Such nyāsa and Astra-mantra applications are intended to purify the practitioner, establish mantra-protection (rakṣā), and ensure the rite is performed with correct orientation and empowered bodily ‘installation’ of sacred sound.