Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 3
Adhyaya 314 — Tvaritājñāna
Immediate/Quick Knowledge) (Colophon/Transition
चतुष्पादेषु क्रीं कारं ह्रीं कारं मुखमध्यतः गर्भे विद्यां ततो लिख्य साधकं पृष्ठतो लिखेत्
catuṣpādeṣu krīṃ kāraṃ hrīṃ kāraṃ mukhamadhyataḥ garbhe vidyāṃ tato likhya sādhakaṃ pṛṣṭhato likhet
ఆ నాలుగు పాదాలపై ‘క్రీం’కారాన్ని వ్రాయాలి; ముఖమధ్యంలో ‘హ్రీం’కారాన్ని వ్రాయాలి. తరువాత గర్భంలో (మధ్యకేంద్రంలో) విద్యామంత్రాన్ని లిఖించి, వెనుకభాగంలో ‘సాధక’ అనే పదాన్ని వ్రాయాలి.
Lord Agni (in dialogue with Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Bīja-nyāsa and yantra inscription protocol: place krīṃ on the four feet, hrīṃ at the face-center, write the main vidyā in the garbha, and mark ‘sādhaka’ on the reverse for identification/ownership and ritual linkage.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Kūrma-yantra bīja placement: krīṃ on feet, hrīṃ on face, vidyā in garbha","lookup_keywords":["krim","hrim","bija-nyasa","garbha","sadhaka"],"quick_summary":"The verse specifies exact seed-syllable placement on a tortoise yantra and where to inscribe the core mantra; it also instructs writing ‘sādhaka’ on the back to bind the implement to the practitioner."}
Concept: Bīja-akṣaras function as concentrated śakti; their spatial placement (deha/yantra mapping) is part of mantra’s operative grammar.
Application: Maintain exact bīja placement and preserve the yantra’s orientation (front/back) to avoid ritual ‘miswiring’ and to keep the implement personally keyed to the sādhaka.
Khanda Section: Tantra-Mantra Vidya (Yantra/Lekhana-vidhi, Bija-mantra Nyasa)
Primary Rasa: Adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: Shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Close view of a tortoise yantra: ‘krīṃ’ written on each of four feet, ‘hrīṃ’ at the face center, the main vidyā in the central womb; the birch-bark is flipped to show ‘sādhaka’ written on the reverse.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized tortoise diagram enlarged, bold Devanagari bījas on limbs, sādhaka’s hands writing with stylus, flip-side shown as a secondary vignette with ‘sādhaka’ inscription, ritual lamp glow.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, ornate yantra-tortoise on a gold-accented panel, bīja syllables rendered prominently, sādhaka writing the garbha mantra, gold leaf around the central garbha to signify power.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, technical plate: labeled positions for krīṃ/hrīṃ/vidyā/‘sādhaka’ back inscription, neat calligraphy, minimal figures, emphasis on clarity and placement.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, artisan-priest inscribing bījas on a tortoise diagram at a desk, assistant holding the leaf; a second small inset shows the reverse with ‘sādhaka’, fine calligraphic detail and patterned textiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: मुखमध्यतः = मुख + मध्य + तः (अव्ययीभाव/तसिल्).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 314.2 (drawing and measuring the kūrma on bhūrja; initial nyāsa); Agni Purana 314.4 (mālā-mantra wrapping; iṣṭakā placement; kūrma-pṛṣṭha arrangement; karāla recitation)
FAQs
It teaches precise mantra-inscription (lekhanavidhi/nyāsa) for a ritual diagram or figure: place “krīṃ” on the four feet, “hrīṃ” in the facial center, the main Vidyā-mantra in the central core (garbha), and the practitioner marker “sādhaka” on the reverse.
Beyond myth and devotion, it preserves applied ritual technology—how to construct and label a yantra-like form using bīja-syllables and mantra placement—showing the text’s coverage of practical mantra-śāstra alongside other disciplines.
Correct placement of bīja-mantras and the Vidyā is traditionally held to “activate” the rite, providing protection, siddhi-oriented focus, and ritual purity for the sādhaka through properly formed mantra-nyāsa.