Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 34
Derivation
Uddhāra) of the Sakalādi Mantra (सकलादिमन्त्रोद्धारः
श्रीकण्ठश् च शिखण्डी च अष्टौविद्येश्वराःस्मृताः शिखण्डिनो ऽप्यनन्तान्तं मन्त्रान्तं मूर्तिरीरिता
śrīkaṇṭhaś ca śikhaṇḍī ca aṣṭauvidyeśvarāḥsmṛtāḥ śikhaṇḍino 'pyanantāntaṃ mantrāntaṃ mūrtirīritā
ਸ਼੍ਰੀਕੰਠ ਅਤੇ ਸ਼ਿਖੰਡੀ ਅੱਠ ਵਿਦ੍ਯੇਸ਼ਵਰਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਯਾਦ ਕੀਤੇ ਗਏ ਹਨ। ਸ਼ਿਖੰਡਿਨ ਲਈ ਵੀ ਵਿਧਾਨ ਇਹ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਨਿਰਧਾਰਿਤ ਮੂਰਤੀ ਦਾ ਅੰਤ ‘ਅਨੰਤ’ ਨਾਲ ਹੋਵੇ ਅਤੇ ਮੰਤ੍ਰ ਵੀ ‘ਅਨੰਤ’ ਉੱਤੇ ਹੀ ਸਮਾਪਤ ਹੋਵੇ।
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purāṇa frame-narration)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Correct identification of Vidyeśvaras (including Śrīkaṇṭha and Śikhaṇḍī) and ensuring icon/mantra endings with ‘Ananta’ for Śikhaṇḍin—useful for pratimā-lakṣaṇa, mantra-japa, and consecration accuracy.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Aṣṭa Vidyeśvaras: Śrīkaṇṭha & Śikhaṇḍī; ‘Ananta’-anta Mantra/Mūrti Rule","lookup_keywords":["Śrīkaṇṭha","Śikhaṇḍī","Vidyeśvara","Ananta","mantra-anta"],"quick_summary":"Places Śrīkaṇṭha and Śikhaṇḍī within the eight Vidyeśvaras and states that Śikhaṇḍin’s icon and mantra are prescribed to conclude with ‘Ananta’, guiding both visualization and recitation."}
Concept: Mantra–mūrti abheda in practice: the deity’s form is regulated by the mantra’s structure and epithet (here, ‘Ananta’ as terminal).
Application: When commissioning or installing a Vidyeśvara icon, align the pratimā’s naming/visualization and the japa-mantra exactly (including terminal epithets) to maintain sādhana integrity.
Khanda Section: Isana-kalpa / Vidyeśvara-tattva (Śaiva mantra and iconography)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A row of eight Vidyeśvara forms, highlighting Śrīkaṇṭha (blue-throated) and Śikhaṇḍin, with a visual cue that Śikhaṇḍin’s label/mantra ends in ‘Ananta’.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, eight Śaiva Vidyeśvaras in a horizontal frieze, Śrīkaṇṭha with distinct nīla-kaṇṭha tint, Śikhaṇḍin with a banner reading ‘…Ananta’, bold outlines, temple mural palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, eight deity panels with gold embossing, central emphasis on Śrīkaṇṭha and Śikhaṇḍin, ornate halos, ‘Ananta’ in raised gold script near Śikhaṇḍin, rich reds/greens.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, catalog-like presentation of eight Vidyeśvaras with neat captions; Śikhaṇḍin’s caption explicitly ending ‘Ananta’; delicate shading and instructional clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, illustrated manuscript page showing eight seated deities in niches, fine calligraphy labels; Śikhaṇḍin’s label ending ‘Ananta’ emphasized with red rubrication."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अष्टौविद्येश्वराःस्मृताः→अष्टौविद्येश्वराः+स्मृताः; शिखण्डिनो ऽप्यनन्तान्तं→शिखण्डिनः+अपि+अनन्तान्तम्; मूर्तिरीरिता→मूर्तिः+ईरिता
Related Themes: Agni Purana 316.32 (Vidyeśvara enumeration context); Agni Purana 316.33 (mūrti-bheda/theology context)
FAQs
It specifies a Śaiva ritual convention: for the Vidyeśvara named Śikhaṇḍin, both the mantra and the described deity-form are to be concluded with the element “Ananta,” guiding correct mantra-recitation and visualization/icon specification.
It exemplifies the text’s catalog-like transmission of specialized Śaiva liturgical data—names of Vidyeśvaras, along with technical markers for mantras and mūrti-lakṣaṇa—alongside its many other disciplines.
Correct mantra-ending and form-specification are treated as essential for ritual efficacy; aligning worship with the prescribed mantra and mūrti is understood to ensure the intended siddhi and avoid defects (doṣa) in Śaiva practice.