Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 47
Chapter 342: शब्दालङ्काराः
Verbal/Sound-based Ornaments
विश्वग्विषमवर्णानां तावत् पत्राबलीजुषां मध्ये समाक्षरन्यासःसरोजे षोडशच्छदे
viśvagviṣamavarṇānāṃ tāvat patrābalījuṣāṃ madhye samākṣaranyāsaḥsaroje ṣoḍaśacchade
ବିଭିନ୍ନ ଓ ଅସମ ବର୍ଣ୍ଣଶ୍ରେଣୀ ଧାରଣ କରୁଥିବା ପତ୍ରାବଳୀକ୍ରମଯୁକ୍ତ ଷୋଡଶଦଳ ପଦ୍ମଯନ୍ତ୍ରରେ ପ୍ରଥମେ ମନ୍ତ୍ରାକ୍ଷରଗୁଡ଼ିକୁ ପତ୍ରକ୍ରମରେ ବିନ୍ୟାସ କରିବ; ପରେ ମଧ୍ୟଭାଗରେ ସମାକ୍ଷର-ନ୍ୟାସ କରିବ।
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha, as the primary Agni Purāṇa discourse frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Mantra-nyāsa on a ṣoḍaśadala-padma (sixteen-petalled lotus): distribute varṇa/akṣara classes across petals, then perform samākṣara-nyāsa in the center to stabilize the mantra’s core seed/identity.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Ṣoḍaśadala-padma: varṇa-petal sequence and samākṣara-nyāsa in the madhya","lookup_keywords":["ṣoḍaśadala padma","mantra nyāsa","samākṣara nyāsa","varṇa-vibhāga","petal placement"],"quick_summary":"Assign the mantra’s syllables across the sixteen petals according to the intended letter-classes/sequence, then place the equalized/core syllables in the lotus center to complete the nyāsa."}
Concept: Akṣara as śakti: outer differentiation (petal sequence) and inner identity (central samākṣara) together complete mantra-body (mantra-śarīra).
Application: In practice, keep the petal order consistent with the chosen tantra/ācārya-paramparā; conclude by centering attention on the madhya-nyāsa for dhāraṇā and japa-siddhi.
Khanda Section: Tantra-Mantra & Yantra (Puja-vidhi / Mantra-nyasa and lotus-diagram instructions)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sixteen-petalled lotus diagram filled with syllables on each petal; the center contains a compact cluster of equal/core syllables, indicating samākṣara-nyāsa.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, vivid lotus with sixteen petals, each petal bearing a Devanagari syllable, central bindu with clustered akṣaras, priest performing nyāsa with right hand in mudrā","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-highlighted sixteen-petalled lotus, embossed central medallion for samākṣara, ritual lamps and flowers, rich red-green palette, devotional yet diagrammatic","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean instructional layout: sixteen petals numbered, akṣaras neatly written, center emphasized with concentric circles, calm studio-like setting","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, manuscript page aesthetic with illuminated border, precise calligraphy on petals, scholar annotating the center placement, delicate pigments and fine brushwork"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: समाक्षरन्यासःसरोजे = समाक्षरन्यासः + सरोजे (ः + स → स्).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 342 (nyāsa and padma-yantra sequence)
FAQs
It teaches mantra-nyāsa: assigning syllables/letters onto a sixteen-petalled lotus (petal-series) and then performing a central “samākṣara” (uniform/equal-syllable) placement as part of yantra-based worship or meditation.
It preserves a precise, technical ritual procedure—letter/syllable mapping on a lotus-diagram—showing the text’s coverage beyond mythology into applied liturgy, mantra-science, and diagrammatic (yantra) practice.
Nyāsa sacralizes the body/diagram by “installing” mantra-power in ordered locations; the centered samākṣara placement signifies stabilization and inner integration, supporting concentration, purification, and efficacy of worship.