Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 2
सकलादिमन्त्रोद्धारः (Sakalādi-mantra-uddhāra) — Chapter Colophon/Transition
प्रणवं तदधःकृत्वा ऊहकं तदधः पुनः अंशुमान् विश्वमूर्तिस्थं कण्ठोष्ठप्रणवादिकम्
praṇavaṃ tadadhaḥkṛtvā ūhakaṃ tadadhaḥ punaḥ aṃśumān viśvamūrtisthaṃ kaṇṭhoṣṭhapraṇavādikam
ਉਸ (ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਰੱਖੇ ਤੱਤ) ਦੇ ਹੇਠਾਂ ਪ੍ਰਣਵ ‘ਓਂ’ ਨੂੰ ਨਿਆਸ ਕਰਕੇ, ਉਸ ਦੇ ਹੇਠਾਂ ਫਿਰ ‘ਊਹਕ’ ਨੂੰ ਰੱਖੋ। ਕੰਠ ਅਤੇ ਓਠਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਸਥਿਤ ਪ੍ਰਣਵ ਆਦਿ ਵਰਣ-ਨਿਆਸ ਸਮੇਤ ਵਿਸ਼੍ਵਮੂਰਤਿ-ਸਥ ਅੰਸ਼ੁਮਾਨ ਦਾ ਧਿਆਨ ਕਰੋ।
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha, the standard Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Pranava-nyasa and varna-krama based dhyana for installing mantra-syllables in specific phonetic loci (throat/lips) before japa or homa.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Praṇava-adhaḥ-nyāsa with Ūhaka and Aṁśumān-dhyāna","lookup_keywords":["praṇava","nyāsa","ūhaka","aṁśumān","kaṇṭha-oṣṭha"],"quick_summary":"Place Oṁ in the prescribed lower position, place the ūhaka beneath it, then contemplate Aṁśumān as viśvamūrti while aligning phonemes beginning with praṇava to throat and lips for correct mantra-body formation."}
Concept: Vāṅmaya-śarīra: mantra becomes effective when phoneme, locus (sthāna), and deity-form (rūpa) are unified in dhyāna.
Application: Use correct articulation points (throat/lips) and nyāsa sequencing to stabilize attention and avoid mantra-bhraṁśa (faulty recitation).
Khanda Section: Mantra-vidhi & Tantra (Pranava/Nyasa/Varnakrama)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A yogin-priest seated in meditation, visualizing a radiant universe-bodied Aṁśumān while subtle syllables (Oṁ and subsequent phonemes) are shown descending in layers and settling at throat and lips.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat yet luminous colors, priest in padmāsana before a stylized cosmic Aṁśumān (sun-like halo), subtle Sanskrit seed-syllables floating to kaṇṭha and oṣṭha, ornate borders, sacred geometry motifs","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf haloed cosmic Aṁśumān with sun-disc, priest performing nyāsa mudrā, embossed gold for syllables Oṁ and ūhaka, rich reds and greens, temple lamp ambience","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, delicate linework, instructional layout showing throat and lips highlighted, syllables placed in sequence beneath one another, calm meditative Aṁśumān visualization in the background","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, fine detailing of a scholar-priest in a pavilion, translucent calligraphic Oṁ and syllables arranged in vertical order, a radiant cosmic figure in the sky, subdued palette with precise ornamentation"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तदधःकृत्वा = तत् + अधः + कृत्वा; विश्वमूर्तिस्थम् = विश्वमूर्ति + स्थम्; कण्ठोष्ठप्रणवादिकम् = कण्ठ + ओष्ठ + प्रणव + आदिकम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 317.3; Agni Purana 317.4; Agni Purana mantra-nyāsa prakaraṇa (adjacent verses)
FAQs
It gives a nyāsa-style instruction: how to place Oṁ (praṇava) and a subsequent syllabic element (‘ūhaka’) in a downward sequence, while meditating on a deity-form (Aṁśumān) and linking mantra parts to articulation points (throat and lips).
Beyond mythology, it preserves practical ritual technology—mantra placement (nyāsa), deity-visualization, and phonetic mapping (kaṇṭha/oṣṭha)—showing the text’s coverage of tantric-ritual procedure and Sanskrit sound-science within a Purāṇic framework.
Correct nyāsa and praṇava-centered meditation are presented as purifying and stabilizing: they align speech (sound), body (placement), and mind (visualization), supporting mantra-siddhi and inner sanctification in ritual practice.