Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 47
Mantra-paribhāṣā
Technical Definitions and Operational Rules of Mantras
रुद्रात्मशक्तान् लिख्यादीन् नमोन्तान् विन्यसेत् क्रमात् अङ्गानि विन्यसेत्सर्वे मन्त्राः साङ्गास्तु सिद्धिदाः
rudrātmaśaktān likhyādīn namontān vinyaset kramāt aṅgāni vinyasetsarve mantrāḥ sāṅgāstu siddhidāḥ
రుద్రాత్మక శక్తులను—లిఖ్యా మొదలుకొని ‘నమో’తో ముగియునట్లు—క్రమంగా న్యాసం చేయాలి. తరువాత అవి అంగాలపై విన్యసించాలి. అన్ని మంత్రాలు సాంగముగా (అంగమంత్రాలతో) ఉన్నప్పుడు సిద్ధిని ప్రసాదిస్తాయి.
Lord Agni (in dialogue with sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Perform mantra-nyāsa: inscribe/mentally place Rudra-śakti syllables/names (starting with Likhyā group) ending in 'namo', then do aṅga-nyāsa so the mantra becomes ‘sāṅga’ and siddhi-yielding.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Rudra-śakti nyāsa and aṅga-nyāsa for mantra-siddhi","lookup_keywords":["nyāsa","aṅga-nyāsa","Rudra-śakti","namo","siddhi"],"quick_summary":"Nyāsa is to be done in sequence for Rudra-essence Śaktis, concluding with ‘namo’; then place them on the limbs. Mantras become effective (siddhi-prada) when accompanied by their ancillary limb-placements (sāṅga)."}
Concept: Embodiment of mantra: nyāsa sacralizes the practitioner’s body as a mantra-mandala; ‘sāṅga’ completeness is a principle of ritual efficacy.
Application: Before japa/pūjā, do kara-nyāsa and aṅga-nyāsa with the prescribed sequence; maintain attention on each limb-placement to stabilize concentration and reduce ritual errors.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Mantra-nyasa (Tantric ritual procedure)
Primary Rasa: Śānta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A practitioner seated in pūjā posture performing aṅga-nyāsa: touching head, eyes, heart, shoulders, arms, and other limbs in sequence while visualizing Rudra-śaktis and concluding with ‘namo’, with a liṅga or Śiva yantra before him.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, temple interior with oil lamps, sādhaka performing nyāsa gestures, subtle yantra patterns, Rudra presence as luminous aura, earthy palette and stylized hands touching limbs in sequence.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, seated sādhaka before a Śiva-liṅga, gold-leaf aura around liṅga, clear depiction of hand-to-limb nyāsa gesture, ornate ritual vessels, rich gold detailing.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional clarity: numbered limb points for aṅga-nyāsa, neat composition, soft colors, fine gold lines, mantra syllables written near each limb placement.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate shrine scene with detailed textiles and vessels, sādhaka performing nyāsa, calligraphic ‘namo’ near the figure, delicate architectural niche and lamp light."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: vinyasetsarve → vinyaset + sarve; sāṅgāstu → sāṅgāḥ + tu. The accusative series (rudrātmaśaktān…namontān) are objects of vinyaset.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 292 (pūjā-vidhi/mantra-nyāsa context)
FAQs
It teaches mantra-nyāsa: sequentially placing Rudra-oriented Śakti mantras (from Likhyā onward, ending in ‘namo’) onto the body’s limbs as aṅga-nyāsa, making the mantra-system ritually complete.
Beyond myth and devotion, it preserves precise ritual technology—how to operationalize mantras through nyāsa and aṅga-mantras—showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of practical liturgy and Tantra-like procedural details.
Completing a mantra with its aṅgas and properly performing nyāsa is presented as a condition for siddhi—ritual efficacy—supporting purification, focused worship, and successful completion of the intended rite.