Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 1
Worship by Limb-Syllables
Aṅgākṣara-arcana
इत्य् आग्नेये महापुराणे नानामन्त्रा नामैकाधिकत्रिशततमो ऽध्यायः अथ द्व्यधिकत्रिशततमो ऽध्यायः अङ्गाक्षरार्चनम् अग्निर् उवाच यदा जन्मर्क्षगश् चन्द्रो भानुः सप्तसराशिगः पौष्णः कालः स विज्ञेयस्तदा ग्रासं परीक्षयेत्
ity āgneye mahāpurāṇe nānāmantrā nāmaikādhikatriśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ atha dvyadhikatriśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ aṅgākṣarārcanam agnir uvāca yadā janmarkṣagaś candro bhānuḥ saptasarāśigaḥ pauṣṇaḥ kālaḥ sa vijñeyastadā grāsaṃ parīkṣayet
अशा प्रकारे अग्नि-महापुराणातील “नानामंत्र” नावाचा एकाधिक त्रिशततम अध्याय समाप्त झाला. आता त्रिशत-द्वितीय अध्याय “अंगाक्षरार्चन” सुरू होतो. अग्नि म्हणाले—जेव्हा चंद्र जन्मनक्षत्रात असेल, सूर्य सप्तम राशीत असेल आणि काळ पौष्ण (पुष्य-संबंधी) असेल, तेव्हा तो काळ शुभ समजावा; मग ‘ग्रास’ (ग्रहणाची मात्रा/अवस्था) तपासून पुढे कर्म करावे।
Lord Agni
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Jyotisha","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Select an auspicious muhurta for mantra-nyasa/arcana by checking lunar nakshatra, solar position, and eclipse phase (grasa) before commencing rites.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Muhurta for Aṅgākṣara-arcana: Janma-nakṣatra, Sūrya in 7th, Puṣan-kāla, and Grāsa-parīkṣā","lookup_keywords":["janma-nakshatra","sūrya saptama-rāśi","puṣan-kāla","grāsa-parīkṣā","aṅgākṣara-arcana"],"quick_summary":"A rite is deemed fit when the Moon is in one’s birth nakshatra, the Sun occupies the 7th sign, and the time is Puṣan-auspicious; additionally, verify eclipse magnitude/phase (grāsa) before proceeding."}
Concept: Ritual efficacy depends on alignment with celestial conditions (kāla) and careful verification of omens/astral phenomena.
Application: Before nyāsa/arcana, compute nakshatra and rāśi positions and avoid/adjust for eclipse conditions by assessing grāsa.
Khanda Section: Mantra-vidya & Tantra (Aṅga-nyāsa / Aṅgākṣara-arcana; Jyotiṣa timing for rites)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritualist preparing aṅgākṣara worship consults a palm-leaf almanac while the sky shows Moon in a marked nakshatra, Sun opposite in the 7th sign, and an eclipse disk with measured ‘grāsa’.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, priest-sage with rudrākṣa and white dhoti holding palm-leaf jyotiṣa charts, stylized zodiac band, Moon in janma-nakshatra star cluster, Sun in opposite rāśi, eclipse disk with a measured bite (grāsa), flat earthy pigments, ornate borders","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central seated Agni as teacher with halo, beside him a jyotiṣi with palm-leaf panchāṅga, gold-leaf zodiac wheel, Moon and Sun placed in opposite houses, eclipse shown with gold relief, rich reds and greens, temple lamp foreground","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean linework instructional tableau: panchāṅga open, labeled nakshatra and rāśi positions, eclipse phase diagram (grāsa) in corner, muted palette, delicate shading, minimal background architecture","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, court astrologer-priest in a pavilion, detailed celestial map with zodiac, Moon and Sun positions annotated, eclipse disk with measured segment, fine brushwork, lapis sky, attendants holding instruments"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: इत्य्→इति; अग्निर् उवाच→अग्निः उवाच; नामैकाधिकत्रिशततमोऽध्यायः→नाम एकाधिकत्रिशततमः अध्यायः; द्व्यधिकत्रिशततमोऽध्यायः→द्वि-अधिक-त्रिशततमः अध्यायः; विज्ञेयस्तदा→विज्ञेयः तदा; जन्मर्क्षगश् चन्द्रो→जन्म-ऋक्ष-गः चन्द्रः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Mantra-vidya sections on nyāsa and aṅga-nyāsa; Agni Purana: Jyotiṣa/muhūrta guidance for rites (adjacent chapters in Mantra-vidyā khanda)
FAQs
It gives a Jyotiṣa-based timing rule for mantra/nyāsa worship: identify an auspicious configuration (Moon in birth nakṣatra, Sun in the 7th sign, Puṣan/Puṣya-related time) and verify the eclipse ‘grāsa’ (magnitude/phase) before performing the rite.
It blends Tantra-style practice (aṅgākṣara-arcana/aṅga-nyāsa) with applied Jyotiṣa (planetary placements, auspicious time, eclipse assessment), showing how the Agni Purana integrates multiple technical disciplines into ritual manuals.
Performing mantra worship at properly qualified times is presented as enhancing efficacy and purity of the rite; checking the eclipse condition prevents undertaking sacred acts under inauspicious or unstable celestial influences.