Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 27
Explanation of the Vāsudeva and Related Mantras (वासुदेवादिमन्त्रनिरूपणम्)
करे देहे न्यसेदाद्यमङ्गुष्टादिक्रमेण तु तलसंस्थः सप्तमश् च लोकेशो देहके क्रमात्
kare dehe nyasedādyamaṅguṣṭādikrameṇa tu talasaṃsthaḥ saptamaś ca lokeśo dehake kramāt
முதலில் கையில், பின்னர் உடலில்—அங்குஷ்டம் முதலாக வரிசையாக—ஆதி (மந்திரம்) ந்யாசம் செய்ய வேண்டும். ஏழாவது (மந்திரம்/தேவதை) உள்ளங்கையில் நிறுவப்பட வேண்டும்; அதுபோல உலகநாதனும் உடலில் முறையாக ந்யசிக்கப்பட வேண்டும்.
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in ritual procedure)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Kara-nyāsa and deha-nyāsa: install mantras on hand and body in thumb-first order; place the seventh in the palm; then install Lokanātha across the body for pūjā and protection.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Kara-nyāsa, Deha-nyāsa, and Saptama-tala-sthāpana (Palm Placement) with Lokanātha-vinyāsa","lookup_keywords":["kara-nyāsa","deha-nyāsa","aṅguṣṭādi-krama","tala-stha","lokanātha"],"quick_summary":"The verse gives a practical nyāsa order: first the hand, then the body, starting from the thumb sequence; the seventh is placed in the palm. It further indicates installing the Lord of the worlds on the body in a defined order."}
Concept: Embodied ritual cognition: the hand (agency) and body (field of experience) are made mantra-saturated, aligning action with the cosmic lordship (Lokanātha).
Application: Before pūjā/japa, perform kara-nyāsa to steady mudrā and attention; then deha-nyāsa to internalize the deity, reducing distraction and enhancing dhāraṇā.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Nyasa / Mantra-deha-vinyasa)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A priest/sādhaka performing kara-nyāsa: touching thumb and fingers in sequence, then touching body points; the palm highlighted as the seventh placement; a subtle figure of Lokanātha superimposed on the body.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, ritualist with exaggerated hand gestures, thumb-to-finger sequence clearly shown, palm glowing for the seventh, body marked with traditional locus symbols, ornate temple border","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, richly adorned priest with gold-highlighted hands, palm center embossed, deity aura of Lokanātha overlaying the torso, gold leaf detailing on hand and body loci","mysore_prompt":"Mysore, step-by-step instructional layout: hand diagram with thumb-first numbering, adjacent full-body figure with placement points, neat labels, soft colors and fine outlines","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate shrine scene with a practitioner performing nyāsa, delicate depiction of hand positions, palm emphasized, subtle translucent deity form aligned with the body"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: nyaset + ādyam → nyasedādyam; saptamaḥ + ca → saptamaś ca.
Related Themes: Agni Purana pūjā-vidhi chapters (nyāsa, mudrā, mantra-aṅga); Agni Purana 25.25–25.28 (nyāsa cluster)
FAQs
It teaches nyāsa—ritually placing mantras/deities on the fingers (starting with the thumb), assigning the seventh to the palm, and then performing the corresponding body-installation (deha-nyāsa) in sequence.
Beyond mythology, it preserves precise liturgical technology (mantra-nyāsa mapping onto hand and body), showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of practical pūjā-vidhi and tantric-ritual method alongside other sciences.
Nyāsa sacralizes the practitioner’s body as a fit ‘seat’ for mantra-devatā, supporting concentration, purity, and ritual efficacy—framing worship as an embodied, consecrated act.