Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 36
Tvaritā-pūjā (The Worship of Tvaritā) — Transition Verse and Context
कराली तु महामुद्रा हृदये योज्य मन्त्रिणः पुनस्तु पूर्ववद् बद्धलग्नां ज्येष्ठां समुत्क्षिपेत्
karālī tu mahāmudrā hṛdaye yojya mantriṇaḥ punastu pūrvavad baddhalagnāṃ jyeṣṭhāṃ samutkṣipet
Карали — «Великая мудра»; практикующий мантру должен применять её у сердца. Затем снова, как прежде, связав и закрепив жест, следует поднять мудру Джьештха (Jyeṣṭhā).
Lord Agni (traditionally instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s ritual/vidyā sections)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Application of Karālī Mahāmudrā at the heart for mantra-sādhana, followed by raising the Jyeṣṭhā mudrā as in the prior method—sequenced sealing to empower invocation and protection.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Karālī Mahāmudrā (hṛdaya-nyāsa) with Jyeṣṭhā-utkṣepa","lookup_keywords":["Karālī","Mahāmudrā","hṛdaya","Jyeṣṭhā","mantrin"],"quick_summary":"Karālī is taught as a Mahāmudrā to be applied at the heart by the mantra-practitioner; then, repeating the earlier binding method, one raises the Jyeṣṭhā mudrā to complete the sequence."}
Concept: Hṛdaya as the principal ‘seat’ for mantra-devatā; ‘mahā’ mudrā indicates a comprehensive seal integrating intention, breath, and bodily locus.
Application: Use Karālī at the heart during key moments (āvāhana, kavaca, japa-sankalpa), then perform the follow-up raising gesture to ‘lock’ the rite and maintain inner steadiness.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Tantra (Mudra-vidhi in Mantra-sadhana)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A mantra-practitioner presses the Karālī Mahāmudrā at the heart, then transitions to an upward-raising gesture (Jyeṣṭhā), with a protective aura forming around the chest.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, sādhaka with pronounced heart-lotus glow, hands at chest in Karālī, then one hand raised in follow-up, bold outlines, sacred flame motif behind.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold foil heart-lotus and aura, richly ornamented sādhaka, clear depiction of mudrā at hṛdaya, subsequent raised gesture, temple arch framing.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, stepwise instructional composition (two poses in one frame), soft colors, emphasis on hand positions at heart and raised Jyeṣṭhā, serene shrine interior.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, elegant figure in prayer hall, luminous wash at chest, subtle depiction of sequential gesture, fine textile and architectural detail."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Shree","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: mahāmudrā = mahā + mudrā; baddhalagnām = baddha + lagnām.
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa 309 (Karālī, Jyeṣṭhā and other mudrā-bandhas in sequence)
FAQs
It teaches a specific mudrā-sequence in mantra-practice: apply the Karālī Mahāmudrā at the heart-region, then (as previously instructed) bind/fix the gesture and raise the Jyeṣṭhā mudrā.
Beyond myths and theology, the Agni Purana preserves practical ritual technology—named tantric mudrās, their placement (heart-center), and procedural cues (bind, fix, raise)—showing its coverage of detailed liturgical and esoteric techniques.
Mudrās function as ‘seals’ that stabilize mantra-energy and focus the practitioner’s intention; placing the principal mudrā at the heart aligns devotion and inner concentration, supporting purity, efficacy of japa/ritual, and disciplined spiritual practice.