Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 13
Tvaritā-mūla-mantra and Related Details
Dīkṣā, Maṇḍala, Nyāsa, Japa, Homa, Siddhi, Mokṣa
वर्णान्तमग्निमारूटं षष्ठस्वरविभेदितं पञ्चदशेन चाक्रान्तं स्वैः स्वैर् नामभि योजयेत्
varṇāntamagnimārūṭaṃ ṣaṣṭhasvaravibheditaṃ pañcadaśena cākrāntaṃ svaiḥ svair nāmabhi yojayet
வர்ணங்களின் முடிவில் அக்னியை அமைத்து, ஆறாம் ஸ்வர வேறுபாட்டால் பிரிக்கப்பட்டதும் பதினைந்தாம் மூலம் மேலிடப்பட்டதும் ஆகிய எழுத்துக் குழுவை, அவரவர் பெயர்களின்படி ஒழுங்குபடுத்த வேண்டும்.
Lord Agni (in instruction mode, Agni Purana’s encyclopedic teaching to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Alamkara","practical_application":"Akṣara-vinyāsa for mantra/nyāsa or mātṛkā-cakra arrangement: placing syllables with specified vowel/phoneme indexing for coded ritual or metrical-phonetic mapping.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Varṇa-mātṛkā arrangement with Agni at varṇānta and vowel indexing","lookup_keywords":["varṇa-mātṛkā","akṣara-vinyāsa","agni at end","ṣaṣṭha-svara","pañcadaśa"],"quick_summary":"Arrange syllables in a prescribed phonetic grid: place ‘Agni’ at the terminal position of the varṇa-series, differentiate by the sixth vowel, and overlay by the fifteenth element, assigning each by its ritual name."}
Alamkara Type: Varṇa-vinyāsa (phonetic arrangement; overlaps with chandas/śikṣā rather than a single alaṅkāra)
Concept: Śabda (phoneme) is a structured power; correct ordering and naming of akṣaras is itself a ritual technology.
Application: For nyāsa or mantra-cakra work, follow the specified indexing rules (vowel/varṇa positions) to avoid phonetic/ritual error (doṣa).
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Chandas/Varna-Matrika & Mantra-nyasa / Akshara-vidya)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: śānta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A letter-matrix (mātṛkā-cakra) diagram with syllables arranged in rows/columns; ‘Agni’ marked at the terminal position; annotations indicating ‘sixth vowel’ differentiation and ‘fifteenth overlay’; a teacher-priest pointing to the grid.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural aesthetic applied to a sacred akṣara-maṇḍala: stylized lotus-grid filled with Devanāgarī syllables, Agni glyph highlighted at the end, priest-sage teaching, warm reds/ochres, ornamental frame","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, central akṣara-cakra on a gilded lotus, syllables in neat compartments, Agni emblem (flame) at varṇānta, gold leaf accents, rich jewel tones, small attendant figures holding palm-leaf manuscripts","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional clarity: clean akṣara grid with labeled vowel indices (6th, 15th), subtle gold, scholar with stylus and palm-leaf, calm studio-like setting","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature of a manuscript workshop: calligrapher drawing a Sanskrit letter-matrix, marginal notes for sixth vowel and fifteenth overlay, delicate textiles, inkpots, fine architectural interior"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: varṇāntamagnimārūṭaṃ = varṇāntam + agnim + ārūḍham; cākrāntaṃ = ca + ākrāntam; nāmabhi = nāmabhiḥ (visarga before y).
Related Themes: Agni Purana sections on chandas, varṇa-mātrā, and mātṛkā-nyāsa in the Sahitya/Mantra-related khanda
FAQs
It gives a technical rule for arranging/assigning syllables in a letter-matrix (mātṛkā) style procedure—placing an Agni-element at the end, applying a modification by a specified vowel index (the sixth), and then overlaying/stepping through by a fifteenth unit—so the practitioner can correctly ‘join’ the units with their proper names in a nyāsa/vinyāsa scheme.
Beyond mythology, the Agni Purana preserves applied technical systems—here, a structured phonetic/mantric mapping of letters and vowels used in ritual and esoteric practice—showing how the text functions as a compendium of śāstric procedures (akṣara-vidyā, mantra-yojana, and ritual placement rules).
Correctly performing such ordered syllable-assignment is traditionally held to purify speech and intention, stabilize mantra practice, and ensure the rite’s efficacy—errors in placement are considered to weaken the intended spiritual result, while correct vinyāsa supports merit (puṇya) and focused worship.