Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 4
Worship by Limb-Syllables
Aṅgākṣara-arcana
ह्यल्काय राहसोल्काय वैष्णवोष्टाक्षरो मनुः कनिष्ठादितदष्टानामङ्गुलीनाञ्च पर्वसु
hyalkāya rāhasolkāya vaiṣṇavoṣṭākṣaro manuḥ kaniṣṭhāditadaṣṭānāmaṅgulīnāñca parvasu
‘ह्यल्काय’ आणि ‘राहसोल्काय’ (न्यास) साठी वैष्णव अष्टाक्षर मंत्र कनिष्ठिका बोटापासून आरंभ करून बोटांच्या पर्वांवर (सांध्यांवर)—त्या आठ अक्षरांप्रमाणे—स्थापावा।
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Perform kara-nyāsa by placing the Vaiṣṇava aṣṭākṣarī across the finger-joints starting from the little finger, for specific invocations (hyalkāya, rāhasolkāya).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Vaiṣṇava Aṣṭākṣarī Kara-nyāsa on Finger Joints (starting from Kaniṣṭhā)","lookup_keywords":["aṣṭākṣarī","kara-nyāsa","kaniṣṭhā","aṅgulī-parva","vaiṣṇava mantra"],"quick_summary":"Apply the eight syllables of the Vaiṣṇava mantra sequentially to the joints of the fingers, beginning with the little finger, as part of nyāsa for the stated invocatory forms."}
Concept: Embodiment of mantra through nyāsa: the body/hand becomes the ritual field where syllables are installed to awaken protective and devotional potency.
Application: Before japa or pūjā, do kara-nyāsa to steady attention and ‘seal’ the hands as instruments of worship.
Khanda Section: Mantra-vidhi (Vaiṣṇava Mantra Nyāsa and Japa Prayoga)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Close view of hands: the practitioner touches successive finger joints starting from the little finger, mentally placing each syllable of the Vaiṣṇava aṣṭākṣarī while invoking hyalkāya and rāhasolkāya.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, enlarged hands in ritual mudrā, finger joints highlighted with stylized syllables, small Vishnu emblem (śaṅkha-cakra) above, earthy pigments and bold outlines","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, hands adorned with simple bangles, gold-leaf syllables on finger joints, small Vishnu figure with conch and discus in corner, rich decorative frame","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional diagram-like scene: numbered finger joints from kaniṣṭhā onward, syllables placed sequentially, clean lines and gentle colors, minimal background","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate study of a devotee’s hands performing nyāsa, fine calligraphy of syllables near joints, soft textiles and a small shrine in background"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ह्यल्काय→हि अल्काय; राहसोल्काय→राहस-उल्काय; वैष्णवोष्टाक्षरो→वैष्णव-ओष्ठ-अक्षरः; कनिष्ठादितदष्टानामङ्गुलीनाञ्च→कनिष्ठा-आदि तत् अष्टानाम् अङ्गुलीनाम् च.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Aṅga-nyāsa and kara-nyāsa sequences in the same aṅgākṣara-arcana chapter
FAQs
It teaches finger-joint nyāsa (aṅguli-parva-nyāsa) for the Vaiṣṇava eight-syllabled mantra, assigning its eight units sequentially starting from the little finger.
Beyond mythic narration, it preserves precise liturgical technology—mantra deployment, coded bījas, and bodily placement (nyāsa)—showing the text’s coverage of practical ritual manuals alongside theology.
Nyāsa sacralizes the practitioner’s body as a locus of Viṣṇu-mantra, supporting focused japa, inner purification, and steadiness of devotion through disciplined ritual embodiment.