Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 10
Worship of Gaurī and Others (Gauryādi-pūjā) — Mantra, Maṇḍala, Mudrā, Homa, and Mṛtyuñjaya Kalaśa-Rite
सपीठे वामभागे तु शिवस्याव्यक्तरूपकम् व्यक्ता द्विनेत्रा त्र्यक्षरा शुद्धा वा शङ्करान्विता
sapīṭhe vāmabhāge tu śivasyāvyaktarūpakam vyaktā dvinetrā tryakṣarā śuddhā vā śaṅkarānvitā
పీಠంపై శివుని ఎడమ భాగంలో అవ్యక్త రూపాన్ని ధ్యానించాలి. వ్యక్తరూపంలో ఆమె ద్వినేత్రి, త్ర్యక్షరీ (మంత్రస్వరూపం), శుద్ధ మరియు శంకరునితో ఏక్యమైనది.
Lord Agni (teaching the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional dialogue style)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Dhyāna and iconographic placement of Śakti on Śiva’s left (vāma-bhāga), distinguishing avyakta/vyakta forms and linking the deity to a tri-syllabic mantra for japa and pratiṣṭhā.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Śiva-Śakti vāma-bhāga nyāsa: avyakta/vyakta Devī and triyakṣarī-mantra form","lookup_keywords":["vāma-bhāga","avyakta-rūpa","dvinetrā","triyakṣarī","Śaṅkara-anvitā"],"quick_summary":"Śakti is contemplated on the left side of Śiva upon the pedestal; she may be meditated as unmanifest, or as manifest—two-eyed, pure, and identified with a three-syllabled mantra, inseparable from Śaṅkara."}
Concept: Vyakta-avyakta unity and Śiva-Śakti abheda (inseparability) expressed through icon placement and mantra embodiment.
Application: In dhyāna and pūjā, hold the unmanifest as the ground (avyakta) and the manifest as mantra-rūpa for japa and visualization.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Shiva-Shakti iconography and mantra/yantra-vidhi)
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A pedestal with Śiva seated/standing; on his left side a subtle luminous Devī (avyakta) transitioning into a manifest two-eyed form, with a tri-syllable mantra glyph hovering as her essence.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Śiva with Devī on vāma-bhāga, soft aura indicating avyakta, sacred syllables stylized as yantric marks, muted temple palette and lotus pedestal.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Śiva-Śakti on ornate pīṭha, gold foil halo, Devī on left with serene two-eyed face, tri-syllable mantra shown in decorative cartouche.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic depiction of correct placement (left side), clean outlines, subtle glow for avyakta-to-vyakta transition, mantra syllables neatly rendered.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined interior shrine scene, Śiva with a translucent Devī form at left becoming fully painted, calligraphic mantra panel above, intricate textiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative-devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: शिवस्याव्यक्तरूपकम् = शिवस्य + अव्यक्तरूपकम् (अ + अ → आ).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 325 (Devī-dhyāna, mūrti-lakṣaṇa, mantra-vidhi)
FAQs
It gives a dhyāna-lakṣaṇa for worship: place/visualize the goddess-power on Śiva’s left on the pīṭha, distinguishing her unmanifest (avyakta) and manifest (vyakta) forms, and specifying her mantra-identity as “three-syllabled” (tryakṣarā).
It exemplifies the Purana’s practical ritual manuals—combining iconography (left-side placement, eyes), metaphysics (unmanifest/manifest), and mantra-technicality (tryakṣara)—showing how theology is applied in temple and tantric-style worship procedures.
Meditating on the pure (śuddhā) power united with Śaṅkara aligns the worshipper’s mind with Śiva–Śakti unity, supporting inner purification and steadiness in japa/dhyāna, which are traditionally held to generate merit and spiritual clarity.