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
Śrīkaṇṭha e Śikhaṇḍī são lembrados entre os oito Vidyeśvaras. Também para Śikhaṇḍin, ensina-se que a forma (mūrti) prescrita tem “Ananta” como elemento conclusivo, e que o seu mantra igualmente termina com “Ananta”.
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.