Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 16
Chapter 303: Mantras for Worship Beginning with the Five-syllable (Pañcākṣara) — पञ्चाक्षरादिपूजामन्त्राः
क्रमात् कृष्णसितश्यामरक्तपीता नगादयः मन्त्रार्णा दण्डिनाङ्गानि तेषु सर्वास्तु मूर्तयः
kramāt kṛṣṇasitaśyāmaraktapītā nagādayaḥ mantrārṇā daṇḍināṅgāni teṣu sarvāstu mūrtayaḥ
क्रमात् कृष्णसितश्यामरक्तपीता नगादयः। मन्त्रार्णा दण्डिनाङ्गानि तेषु सर्वास्तु मूर्तयः॥
Lord Agni (in the Agni Purana’s standard discourse to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Varṇa-nyāsa and dhyāna: mapping mantra-syllables to colors and to Daṇḍin’s limbs, treating syllables as loci of devatā-mūrtis.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Varṇa-rūpa (Color) Mapping of Mantrārṇas as Daṇḍin-aṅgas","lookup_keywords":["mantrārṇa","varṇa-nyāsa","Daṇḍin","kṛṣṇa-sita-śyāma-rakta-pīta","aṅga-nyāsa"],"quick_summary":"Mantra syllables are contemplated in a fixed color-sequence and installed as the limbs of Daṇḍin; each syllable-limb is treated as a seat for all divine forms."}
Concept: Mantra is not mere sound: each varṇa is a devatā-aṅga and a bhāva-sthāna where multiple mūrtis can be contemplated.
Application: During japa/nyāsa, stabilize visualization by assigning consistent colors and limb-locations to syllables, deepening dhāraṇā.
Khanda Section: Mantra-Śāstra / Tantric Mantra-Varṇa-Nyāsa (Dandin-aṅga mapping)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A schematic-yet-sacred visualization: Daṇḍin’s body formed of mantra-syllables, each limb glowing in black, white, dark-blue, red, and yellow, with tiny deity-forms residing within each syllable.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, Daṇḍin standing frontal with staff, limbs segmented into colored fields (kṛṣṇa, sita, śyāma, rakta, pīta), within each segment miniature devatā silhouettes, bold outlines and sacred symmetry.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Daṇḍin with ornate jewelry and staff, gold-leaf background, limbs highlighted with enamel-like color blocks, small embedded deity motifs, rich temple aesthetic.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional diagram feel: Daṇḍin figure with subtle labels for syllables, refined shading, clear color coding, calm devotional palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, elegant Daṇḍin in courtly landscape, translucent colored glows on limbs indicating syllable-colors, tiny divine figures painted within the glows, meticulous detail."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: sarvāstu → sarvāḥ + tu.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 303.17-303.19 (nyāsa placement details)
FAQs
It teaches a mantra-nyāsa/dhyāna method: specific mantra-syllable groups (beginning with ‘na’) are assigned a fixed color-sequence and contemplated as the limbs of the deity Daṇḍin, with all divine forms envisioned as present within those syllables.
Beyond mythic narration, it preserves applied tantric-ritual technique—linking phonetics (akṣara/varṇa), iconography (deity limbs), and meditative visualization (color and mūrti)—showing the Purana’s coverage of mantra-science alongside other disciplines.
By treating mantra-syllables as embodied divine limbs and hosting all mūrtis within them, the practitioner sacralizes speech and cognition, supporting purification and focused worship (upāsanā) through disciplined visualization and mantra-internal deity presence.