Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 20
Tvaritājñānam
Knowledge of Tvaritā, the Swift Goddess) — Agni Purana, Adhyāya 314 (as introduced after 313
एकाशीतिपदे सर्वामादिवर्णक्रमेण तु आदिमं यावदन्तं स्याद्वषडन्तञ्च नाम वै
ekāśītipade sarvāmādivarṇakrameṇa tu ādimaṃ yāvadantaṃ syādvaṣaḍantañca nāma vai
ਇਕਿਆਸੀਵੇਂ ਪਦ ਵਿੱਚ ਸਾਰੇ ਨਾਮ ਆਦਿ ਅੱਖਰਾਂ ਦੇ ਕ੍ਰਮ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਰੱਖੋ। ਸ਼ੁਰੂ ਤੋਂ ਅੰਤ ਤੱਕ ਜੋ ਨਾਮ ਹੈ, ਉਹ ਨਿਸਚਿਤ ਹੀ ‘ਵਸ਼ਟ’ ਅੰਤ ਵਾਲਾ ਨਾਮ ਮੰਨਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ।
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s ritual-technical sections)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Standardizing name/epithet listing by initial-letter order and appending vaṣaḍ as a ritual terminal for a specified item (the 81st) in a mantra/namāvali procedure.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Vaṣaḍ-anta nāma-nirdeśa in 81st item (ādya-varṇa-krama)","lookup_keywords":["vaṣaḍ-kāra","nāma-nirdeśa","ādya-varṇa-krama","ekāśīti-pada","namāvali"],"quick_summary":"For the designated 81st entry, arrange names by initial-letter sequence and ensure each name/formula terminates with vaṣaḍ for ritual recitation consistency."}
Concept: Ritual efficacy is supported by formal constraints: ordered enumeration (ādya-varṇa-krama) and fixed terminal exclamation (vaṣaḍ).
Application: When compiling/reciting the specified namāvali segment, keep alphabetical order and consistent vaṣaḍ endings to avoid procedural faults (doṣa) in homa/offerings.
Khanda Section: Mantra-vidya / Vedic Ritual Formulae (Vaṣaṭ-kāra and Nama-nirdeśa)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A manuscript folio showing a structured list of names arranged by initial letters, each line ending with vaṣaḍ; a ritual fire altar in the background indicating homa usage.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: scribe-sādhaka near a small homa-kuṇḍa, palm-leaf list with repeated vaṣaḍ endings, warm lamp and fire glow, bold outlines and earthy tones.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: gold-highlighted manuscript and homa vessels, the repeated ‘vaṣaḍ’ endings rendered prominently, decorative aureole-like framing around the list to signify sanctity.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: neat instructional depiction of an alphabetized namāvali table with vaṣaḍ suffix, side vignette of offering into fire, fine brushwork and clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: calligrapher compiles an ordered list; in a corner, a small fire-ritual scene; intricate border patterns, precise text blocks with repeated vaṣaḍ."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सर्वामादिवर्णक्रमेण → सर्वाम् आदि-वर्ण-क्रमेण; स्याद्वषडन्तञ्च → स्यात् वषड्-अन्तम् च
Related Themes: Agni Purana 313.19 (vaṣaḍ-ending saṃjñā); Agni Purana 313.18 (akṣara-krama in grids)
FAQs
It specifies a technical rule for listing/defining mantra-names: they should be organized by the initial letter (ādi-varṇa-krama), and the relevant designation here is a form whose name is characterized by ending with the vaṣaṭ exclamation (vaṣaṭ-kāra) used in fire offerings.
Beyond mythic narration, it preserves procedural and philological details of ritual practice—how mantras are classified, named, and arranged—showing the text’s coverage of liturgy, technical terminology, and systematic cataloging.
Correct identification and usage of vaṣaṭ-terminating formulas is tied to precise performance of homa/yajña; accuracy in mantra-recitation and ritual forms is traditionally held to ensure efficacy (siddhi) and merit (puṇya) while avoiding ritual fault (doṣa).