Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 8
The Root-Mantra of Tvaritā
Tvaritā-mūla-mantra
त्रैलोक्यं पादमूले स्यान्नवखण्डां भुवं लभेत् कपाले तु समालिख्य शिवतत्त्वं समन्ततः
trailokyaṃ pādamūle syānnavakhaṇḍāṃ bhuvaṃ labhet kapāle tu samālikhya śivatattvaṃ samantataḥ
ਪੈਰਾਂ ਦੇ ਮੂਲ ਵਿੱਚ ਤ੍ਰੈਲੋਕ੍ਯ ਨੂੰ ਸਥਾਪਿਤ ਕਰੇ; ਧਰਤੀ ਨੂੰ ਨਵ-ਖੰਡ ਰੂਪ ਵਿੱਚ ਨਿਰੂਪਿਤ ਕਰੇ। ਫਿਰ ਕਪਾਲ ਉੱਤੇ ਧਿਆਨ ਨਾਲ ਅੰਕਿਤ ਕਰਕੇ, ਚੌਹੀਂ ਪਾਸੀਂ ਸ਼ਿਵ-ਤੱਤਵ ਦਾ ਚਿਤ੍ਰਣ ਕਰੇ।
Lord Agni (in discourse to the sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Nyāsa/yantra visualization: mapping triloka and the ninefold earth onto body loci (feet) and inscribing Śiva-tattva around a kapāla as a ritual support for protection, empowerment, or consecration.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Triloka-Nyāsa and Nava-khaṇḍa Bhūmi with Kapāla-lekhana of Śiva-tattva","lookup_keywords":["triloka-nyāsa","nava-khaṇḍa","bhūmi","kapāla-lekhana","śiva-tattva"],"quick_summary":"Place the three worlds at the feet-base, delineate the earth as nine regions, and inscribe Śiva-tattva around/on a skull-support—linking cosmic geography to the ritual body and diagram."}
Concept: Microcosm–macrocosm identity: the body/ritual support can host the structure of worlds; Śiva-tattva pervades and encircles all.
Application: Use structured visualization/inscription to stabilize attention (dhāraṇā) and to ‘seal’ the rite with an all-pervasive Śiva principle.
Khanda Section: Isana-kalpa (Shaiva-Tantric ritual diagrams and nyasa)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhayānaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A tantric practitioner performs nyāsa: feet-base marked with ‘triloka’, a nine-part earth diagram nearby, and a kapāla inscribed with a circular Śiva-tattva band around it.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, dim sanctum-like setting, practitioner with rudrākṣa, stylized kapāla with circular inscriptions, feet-base marked with three-tier cosmos symbols, deep reds/ochres.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, kapāla rendered with gold highlights, circular Śiva-tattva script ring, practitioner seated on tiger-skin, ritual diagram of nine regions beside, ornate gold borders.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean diagrammatic clarity: feet-base labels for triloka, a 3×3 earth grid, and a kapāla with concentric inscription rings, instructional composition.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate study scene with a yogin inscribing a skull-cup, fine calligraphy-like markings, cosmographic diagram on paper, subdued night palette."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Darbari","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: syān nava-khaṇḍām → syāt nava-khaṇḍām (syān is sandhi form of syāt before n-); trailokyaṃ (tri+loka dvigu).
Related Themes: Agni Purana Īśāna-kalpa/nyāsa and yantra sections; Śaiva-tattva enumerations elsewhere in mantra/tantra chapters
FAQs
It teaches a Tantric-style visualization/drawing protocol: mapping the three worlds at the feet-base, marking the earth as ninefold, and inscribing Śiva-tattva around a kapāla as part of a Śaiva ritual diagram (lekhana/yantra-style placement).
Beyond mythic narration, it preserves practical liturgical technology—cosmography applied to worship—showing how Purāṇic texts function as manuals for yantra-like layouts, nyāsa placements, and sectarian (Śaiva) ritual procedure.
By ritually situating the cosmos (trailokya and ninefold earth) within a Śiva-centered diagram and surrounding it with Śiva-tattva, the practitioner sacralizes space and identity, aiming at purification and alignment with Śiva as the all-pervading auspicious principle.