Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 4
Worship of Gaurī and Others (Gauryādi-pūjā) — Mantra, Maṇḍala, Mudrā, Homa, and Mṛtyuñjaya Kalaśa-Rite
ॐ ह्रीं सः शौं गौर्यै नमः तत्रार्णत्रितयेनैव जातियुक्तं षडङ्गुलम् आसनं प्रणवेणैव मूर्तिं वै हृदयेन तु
oṃ hrīṃ saḥ śauṃ gauryai namaḥ tatrārṇatritayenaiva jātiyuktaṃ ṣaḍaṅgulam āsanaṃ praṇaveṇaiva mūrtiṃ vai hṛdayena tu
மந்திரம்—‘ॐ ஹ்ரீம் ஸஃ ஷௌம்—கௌர்யை நமः’. அங்கே எழுத்துத் திரயத்தாலேயே ஜாதியுடன் கூடிய ஆறு அங்குல அளவுடைய ஆசனத்தை அமைக்க வேண்டும். பிரணவம் (ஓம்) ஒன்றினாலே மூர்த்தியை நிறுவி, ஹ்ருதய மந்திரத்தால் ந்யாசம் செய்ய வேண்டும்.
Lord Agni (in dialogue tradition of Agni Purana, instructing Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Daily/occasional Gaurī-pūjā using a specific pañcabīja-like sequence and nyāsa/āsana/installation steps (āsana-measure, mūrti-pratiṣṭhā, hṛdaya-nyāsa).","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Mantra","entry_title":"Gaurī-mantra with āsana (ṣaḍaṅgula) and mūrti-hṛdaya-nyāsa","lookup_keywords":["oṃ hrīṃ saḥ śauṃ","gauryai namaḥ","ṣaḍaṅgula āsana","praṇava pratiṣṭhā","hṛdaya-nyāsa"],"quick_summary":"Use the mantra ‘Oṃ Hrīṃ Saḥ Śauṃ Gauryai Namaḥ’; prepare a six-aṅgula seat with the proper jāti specification, install the image with Oṃ, and perform heart-nyāsa with the hṛdaya-mantra."}
Concept: Devī is approached through mantra (śabda), seat (adhāra), and internalization (hṛdaya-nyāsa): outer worship culminates in inner placement.
Application: In pūjā, sequence matters: establish āsana → invoke/install with praṇava → internalize via hṛdaya-nyāsa while maintaining mantra purity (bīja order).
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Tantric Devi-mantra and Nyasa/Pratishtha instructions)
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A worshipper prepares a small ritual seat measured to six aṅgulas, recites ‘Oṃ Hrīṃ Saḥ Śauṃ Gauryai Namaḥ’, and performs heart-nyāsa before a Gaurī image.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Gaurī idol on a small pīṭha, devotee performing nyāsa touching heart, mantra syllables stylized as glowing letters, lamp-lit sanctum, bold outlines and flat color fields","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central Gaurī with gold halo, foreground devotee with añjali, visible six-aṅgula seat/pīṭha, ornate lamps, heavy gold embossing and jewel tones","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional clarity: ruler-like aṅgula measure near the āsana, devotee touching heart for nyāsa, neat temple alcove, soft gradients and fine detailing","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate shrine scene with detailed textiles and vessels, devotee reciting mantra, small Gaurī murti on a measured seat, delicate calligraphic mantra panel in margin"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Kalyāṇi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तत्रार्णत्रितयेनैव → तत्र + अर्ण-त्रितयेन + एव; षडङ्गुलम् → षड्-अङ्गुलम्; प्रणवेणैव → प्रणवेन + एव.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 325.6 (āsana with praṇava; hṛdaya-nyāsa reiterated); Agni Purana 325.5 (ṣaḍaṅga/jāti technicalities)
FAQs
It teaches a Devi (Gaurī) mantra formula using bīja-syllables and gives practical ritual steps: preparing a measured āsana (six aṅgulas), then performing mūrti-pratiṣṭhā with the praṇava and completing inner placement via hṛdaya-nyāsa.
It combines mantra-śāstra (bīja usage), ritual engineering (precise measurement of the seat/pedestal), and consecration theory (pratiṣṭhā and nyāsa), showing how the Agni Purana preserves multiple applied disciplines within one text.
Correct mantra-recitation and nyāsa/pratiṣṭhā are presented as a way to properly invoke and stabilize the Devi’s presence, purifying the worshipper and making the rite efficacious (siddhi-oriented) rather than merely symbolic.