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
Colocando a sílaba Oṁ (praṇava) abaixo do elemento previamente disposto, e colocando novamente o ‘ūhaka’ abaixo dela, deve-se meditar em Aṁśumān—estabelecido na forma do universo—junto com as colocações fonéticas que começam pelo praṇava, situadas na garganta e nos lábios.
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.