Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 38
Tvaritā-pūjā (The Worship of Tvaritā) — Transition Verse and Context
त्रीणि त्रीणि प्रसार्येति वज्रमुद्रा प्रकीर्तिता प्रसार्या चेति ट दण्डः खड्गञ्चक्रगदा मुद्रा चाकारतः स्मृता
trīṇi trīṇi prasāryeti vajramudrā prakīrtitā prasāryā ceti ṭa daṇḍaḥ khaḍgañcakragadā mudrā cākārataḥ smṛtā
మూడు మూడు వేళ్లను విస్తరించి చేయునది ‘వజ్రముద్ర’ అని ప్రకటించబడింది. ‘ప్రసార్యా’ ముద్ర దండాకార (ట-దండ) రూపముగా స్మరించబడుతుంది; అలాగే ఖడ్గ, చక్ర, గదా ముద్రలు తమ తమ ఆకారాల ప్రకారం తెలిసినవి।
Lord Agni (teaching ritual/tantric procedure to the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s instructional frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Hand-gesture (mudrā) specification for pūjā/nyāsa to seal mantras and visualize weapon-forms (āyudha) during worship.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Vajra-mudrā and Āyudha-mudrā shapes (daṇḍa, khaḍga, cakra, gadā)","lookup_keywords":["vajra-mudra","prasarya mudra","khadga-mudra","cakra-mudra","gada-mudra"],"quick_summary":"Defines how to form Vajra-mudrā by extending ‘three and three’ fingers, and notes that staff/sword/discus/mace mudrās are recognized by their characteristic shapes for ritual sealing."}
Weapon Type: Sword (khaḍga), discus (cakra), mace (gadā), staff (daṇḍa), vajra
Concept: Mudrā as a ‘seal’ (mudrā-bandha) that stabilizes mantra and visualization by embodying divine power through form.
Application: Use precise finger-extensions to avoid ritual error (doṣa) and to align gesture with intended deity/āyudha visualization.
Khanda Section: Tantra–Puja-vidhi (Mudrā-lakṣaṇa / ritual hand-gestures)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritualist’s hands forming Vajra-mudrā with ‘three and three’ fingers extended; adjacent schematic silhouettes of staff, sword, discus, and mace mudrās labeled by shape.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, warm mineral pigments, close-up of priest hands in vajra-mudra, stylized weapon emblems (daṇḍa, khaḍga, cakra, gadā) floating as yantric icons, flat decorative background, sacred geometry borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf highlights on weapon emblems, central hands in mudrā with ornate jewelry, embossed cakra and gadā motifs, rich red-green palette, temple arch framing.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, fine linework instructional plate: sequential hand-positions for vajra and prasāryā, annotated Sanskrit labels, soft pastel wash, minimal background.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, court-atelier precision: a sādhaka seated with manuscript, hands demonstrating mudrās; small inset panels showing staff/sword/discus/mace shapes; delicate floral margins."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: खड्गञ्चक्रगदा → खड्गम् + चक्रगदा (खड्गं च चक्रगदा); मुद्रा चाकारतः → मुद्रा + च + आकारतः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 309 (Mudrā-lakṣaṇa context); Agni Purana 310–311 (Tvaritā-sādhana: nyāsa/yantra usage where mudrās apply)
FAQs
It defines specific ritual mudrās—especially Vajra-mudrā as the act of extending ‘three and three’ fingers—and notes that other mudrās (staff, sword, discus, mace) are identified by their characteristic shapes used during pūjā/mantra-kriyā.
By cataloging precise, practice-oriented details of worship technology (mudrā-lakṣaṇa), it shows the Agni Purāṇa functioning as a manual that preserves ritual technique alongside its many other domains (iconography, mantra, dharma, polity, medicine, etc.).
Correct mudrā performance is traditionally held to ‘seal’ intention in worship, stabilize mantra-śakti, and remove procedural defects (doṣa) in ritual—thereby supporting purity (śuddhi) and the intended devotional fruit (phala).