Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 7
Chapter 347: One-syllable Appellations (एकाक्षराभिधानम्)
ठश् चन्द्रमण्डले शून्ये शिवे चोद्बन्धने मतः डश् च रुद्रे ध्वनौ त्रासे ढक्वायां ढो ध्वनौ मतः
ṭhaś candramaṇḍale śūnye śive codbandhane mataḥ ḍaś ca rudre dhvanau trāse ḍhakvāyāṃ ḍho dhvanau mataḥ
‘ठ’ चंद्रमंडल, शून्य, शिव आणि ‘उद्बन्धन’ (बांधणे/लटकवणे) या अर्थी मानला आहे. ‘ड’ रुद्र, ध्वनी व त्रास (भीती) दर्शवितो; आणि ‘ढ’ ‘ढक्वा’ या उच्चारातून निर्माण होणाऱ्या ध्वनीचा बोध करतो.
Lord Agni (narrating the encyclopedic teachings of the Agni Purana)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Alamkara","practical_application":"Used as a matrika-lexicon for interpreting seed-syllables and phonemes in mantra, yantra labeling, and esoteric glosses; also supports poetic coded reference.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Varṇa-artha: ṭha–ḍha (lunar/void/Śiva; Rudra/sound/fear; onomatopoeia)","lookup_keywords":["ṭha candra-maṇḍala","śūnya","Śiva udbandhana","ḍa Rudra dhvani trāsa","ḍha ḍhakvā dhvani"],"quick_summary":"Assigns multiple semantic fields to ṭha, ḍa, and ḍha—cosmic (moon/void), deity (Śiva/Rudra), affect (fear), and sound-symbolic usage."}
Alamkara Type: Dhvani
Concept: Nāda and śūnya symbolism: phoneme as a bridge between sound, deity, and metaphysical categories (void, lunar sphere).
Application: In mantra-japa or yantra annotation, use these mappings to select/interpret syllables aligned with Śiva/Rudra, nāda, or śūnya contemplation.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Varna-vidya / Matrika-nighantu: phonetic-semantic assignments of syllables)
Primary Rasa: Adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: Bhayānaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A diagrammatic teaching scene: the moon-disc (candra-maṇḍala) and a void-circle labeled śūnya beside a serene Śiva; a fierce Rudra with vibrating sound-waves; a small vignette showing the onomatopoeic utterance ‘ḍhakvā’ as sound ripples.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, bold outlines, moon-disc and śūnya circle motifs, Śiva calm with crescent moon, Rudra dynamic with sound-wave bands, Sanskrit labels ṭha/ḍa/ḍha, temple-wall iconographic clarity","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold haloed moon-disc, Śiva with gold ornaments, Rudra with fiery aura, embossed gold sound-wave motifs, labeled syllables in decorative cartouches","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, refined instructional diagram blended with figures, clear labeling of ṭha=moon/void/Śiva, ḍa=Rudra/sound/fear, ḍha=ḍhakvā sound, soft colors, pedagogic composition","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scientific-illustration feel with celestial disc and void symbol, Śiva and Rudra in separate panels, fine calligraphy labels, delicate borders and architectural framing"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"mystic-didactic","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चोद्बन्धने = च + उद्बन्धने.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 347 (mātrikā-varṇa-artha continuation)
FAQs
It teaches a Varna-vidya (letter-to-meaning mapping) where specific syllables (ṭha, ḍa, ḍha) are assigned semantic fields—moon/void/Śiva, Rudra/sound/fear, and a particular sound-value—useful for mantra interpretation, mnemonic cataloging, and esoteric phonetic analysis.
Beyond myth and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves technical catalogues—here, a phonetic-semantic glossary of syllables—showing its coverage of linguistic/śāstric topics alongside theology, making it a compendium of practical and symbolic knowledge.
By linking syllables with deities and principles (Śiva, Rudra, the void, the moon), the verse frames sound (śabda) as spiritually charged; correct understanding and use of such sounds in recitation supports purity of mantra-prayoga and focused devotional contemplation.