Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 7
Worship of Gaurī and Others (Gauryādi-pūjā) — Mantra, Maṇḍala, Mudrā, Homa, and Mṛtyuñjaya Kalaśa-Rite
व्यापकं सृष्टिसंयुक्तं वह्निमायाकृशानुभिः शिवशक्तिमयं वीजं वीजं हृदयादिविवर्जितं
vyāpakaṃ sṛṣṭisaṃyuktaṃ vahnimāyākṛśānubhiḥ śivaśaktimayaṃ vījaṃ vījaṃ hṛdayādivivarjitaṃ
व्यापकं सृष्टिसंयुक्तं वह्निमायाकृशानुभिः। शिवशक्तिमयं बीजं हृदयादिविवर्जितम्॥
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Understanding and selecting the correct bīja by its tattvic composition (vahni, māyā, kṛśānu/phonemic fire) and its mode of use (non-nyāsa/placement-free in gross ṣaḍaṅga sense).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Śiva-Śakti bīja: all-pervading, creation-linked, fire–māyā–phonemic-fire constituted, placement-free","lookup_keywords":["śivaśakti bīja","vahni māyā kṛśānu","vyāpaka","sṛṣṭisaṃyukta","hṛdayādi-vivarjita"],"quick_summary":"The seed-mantra is defined as pervasive and creation-associated, composed of fiery and māyic phonemic energies, essentially Śiva-Śakti; it is to be treated as a subtle bīja not requiring gross ‘heart/head’ placements."}
Concept: Non-dual polarity: the bīja embodies Śiva-Śakti as the pervasive ground of manifestation; mantra is a microcosm of sṛṣṭi through śabda-agni and māyā.
Application: In sādhanā, contemplate the bīja as pervading consciousness-energy rather than merely a sound; apply it in japa/dhyāna without overloading it with external nyāsa if the tradition marks it ‘hṛdayādi-vivarjita’.
Khanda Section: Mantra-Tantra (Bīja-mantra and Śiva-Śakti doctrine)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"An abstract tantric visualization: a central bīja-syllable radiating through the cosmos, interwoven flames (vahni), a veil-like māyā pattern, and a subtle Śiva-Śakti union motif; no bodily nyāsa marks shown.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, cosmic mandala with central glowing bīja, stylized flames and lattice-like māyā veil, Śiva-Śakti as intertwined luminous forms, flat iconic geometry and saturated colors","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central bīja in embossed gold, surrounding ring of flames, māyā as patterned textile motif, Śiva-Śakti as Ardhanārīśvara-like aura without full figure, rich reds and gold","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean mandala diagram: labels ‘vahni’, ‘māyā’, ‘kṛśānu’, central bīja, radiating pervasion lines, soft pastel shading and precise symmetry","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, allegorical cosmogram: central calligraphic bīja on a page floating over a landscape, flames and translucent veil motifs, subtle paired Śiva-Śakti silhouettes, intricate borders"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Darbārī Kānaḍā","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सृष्टिसंयुक्तम् → सृष्टि-संयुक्तम्; वह्निमायाकृशानुभिः → वह्नि-माया-कृशानुभिः; शिवशक्तिमयम् → शिव-शक्ति-मयम्; हृदयादिविवर्जितम् → हृदय-आदि-विवर्जितम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 325.5 (Śiva-bīja extraction; ṣaḍaṅga/jāti); Agni Purana 325.4-325.6 (hṛdaya-nyāsa usage—here a doctrinal qualification)
FAQs
It defines the bīja-mantra as a Śiva–Śakti essence tied to cosmic manifestation, and indicates a technical point of mantra-śāstra: the bīja can be treated as beyond gross bodily nyāsa-loci (such as heart-placements), emphasizing its subtle, all-pervading status.
Alongside dharma, polity, medicine, and arts, the Agni Purana also preserves mantra-tantra theory—here giving a compact doctrinal definition of bīja-mantras, their cosmological components (Agni, māyā) and Śaiva-Śākta metaphysics.
By contemplating the bīja as Śiva–Śakti and as all-pervading (rather than merely a bodily technique), the practitioner is directed toward subtler mantra-japa and inner purification—aimed at dissolving limitation and aligning consciousness with the source of manifestation.