Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 16
Chapter 303: Mantras for Worship Beginning with the Five-syllable (Pañcākṣara) — पञ्चाक्षरादिपूजामन्त्राः
क्रमात् कृष्णसितश्यामरक्तपीता नगादयः मन्त्रार्णा दण्डिनाङ्गानि तेषु सर्वास्तु मूर्तयः
kramāt kṛṣṇasitaśyāmaraktapītā nagādayaḥ mantrārṇā daṇḍināṅgāni teṣu sarvāstu mūrtayaḥ
ਕ੍ਰਮ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ‘ਨ’ ਆਦਿ ਮੰਤਰ-ਵਰਣ ਕਾਲੇ, ਚਿੱਟੇ, ਸ਼ਿਆਮ, ਲਾਲ ਅਤੇ ਪੀਲੇ ਰੂਪ ਵਿੱਚ ਧਿਆਨਯੋਗ ਹਨ; ਇਹ ਦੰਡਧਾਰੀ ਦੇਵ (ਦੰਡਿਨ) ਦੇ ਅੰਗ ਹਨ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਵਰਣ-ਅੰਗਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਸਭ ਦਿਵ੍ਯ ਮੂਰਤੀਆਂ ਸਥਾਪਿਤ ਸਮਝੀਆਂ ਜਾਣ।
Lord Agni (in the Agni Purana’s standard discourse to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Varṇa-nyāsa and dhyāna: mapping mantra-syllables to colors and to Daṇḍin’s limbs, treating syllables as loci of devatā-mūrtis.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Varṇa-rūpa (Color) Mapping of Mantrārṇas as Daṇḍin-aṅgas","lookup_keywords":["mantrārṇa","varṇa-nyāsa","Daṇḍin","kṛṣṇa-sita-śyāma-rakta-pīta","aṅga-nyāsa"],"quick_summary":"Mantra syllables are contemplated in a fixed color-sequence and installed as the limbs of Daṇḍin; each syllable-limb is treated as a seat for all divine forms."}
Concept: Mantra is not mere sound: each varṇa is a devatā-aṅga and a bhāva-sthāna where multiple mūrtis can be contemplated.
Application: During japa/nyāsa, stabilize visualization by assigning consistent colors and limb-locations to syllables, deepening dhāraṇā.
Khanda Section: Mantra-Śāstra / Tantric Mantra-Varṇa-Nyāsa (Dandin-aṅga mapping)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A schematic-yet-sacred visualization: Daṇḍin’s body formed of mantra-syllables, each limb glowing in black, white, dark-blue, red, and yellow, with tiny deity-forms residing within each syllable.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, Daṇḍin standing frontal with staff, limbs segmented into colored fields (kṛṣṇa, sita, śyāma, rakta, pīta), within each segment miniature devatā silhouettes, bold outlines and sacred symmetry.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Daṇḍin with ornate jewelry and staff, gold-leaf background, limbs highlighted with enamel-like color blocks, small embedded deity motifs, rich temple aesthetic.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional diagram feel: Daṇḍin figure with subtle labels for syllables, refined shading, clear color coding, calm devotional palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, elegant Daṇḍin in courtly landscape, translucent colored glows on limbs indicating syllable-colors, tiny divine figures painted within the glows, meticulous detail."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: sarvāstu → sarvāḥ + tu.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 303.17-303.19 (nyāsa placement details)
FAQs
It teaches a mantra-nyāsa/dhyāna method: specific mantra-syllable groups (beginning with ‘na’) are assigned a fixed color-sequence and contemplated as the limbs of the deity Daṇḍin, with all divine forms envisioned as present within those syllables.
Beyond mythic narration, it preserves applied tantric-ritual technique—linking phonetics (akṣara/varṇa), iconography (deity limbs), and meditative visualization (color and mūrti)—showing the Purana’s coverage of mantra-science alongside other disciplines.
By treating mantra-syllables as embodied divine limbs and hosting all mūrtis within them, the practitioner sacralizes speech and cognition, supporting purification and focused worship (upāsanā) through disciplined visualization and mantra-internal deity presence.