Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 15
Explanation of the Vāsudeva and Related Mantras (वासुदेवादिमन्त्रनिरूपणम्)
ॐ धं वं वनमालायै महानन्ताय वै नमः निर्वीजपदमन्त्राणां पदैर् अङ्गानि कल्पयेत्
oṃ dhaṃ vaṃ vanamālāyai mahānantāya vai namaḥ nirvījapadamantrāṇāṃ padair aṅgāni kalpayet
ॐ—‘ธํ วํ’—ขอนอบน้อมแด่วนมาลาและมหานันตะ. สำหรับมนต์ที่เป็น “นิรฺพีชะ” (ไร้พยางค์บีชะ) พึงจัดวางอวัยวะแห่งนยาสะด้วยถ้อยคำ/บทของมนต์นั้นเอง।
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Applying aṅga-nyāsa even for nirbīja (seedless) mantras by mapping the mantra’s words (padas) onto limbs; includes salutations to Vanamālā and Mahānanta in Vaiṣṇava worship.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Aṅga-nyāsa for nirbīja mantras (pada-based limb assignment)","lookup_keywords":["nirbīja-mantra","aṅga-nyāsa","pada","vanamālā","mahānanta"],"quick_summary":"If a mantra lacks bīja-syllables, perform nyāsa by distributing its words across the ritual limbs (aṅgas), maintaining completeness of installation."}
Concept: Mantra completeness is preserved by functional substitution: where bīja is absent, semantic units (padas) serve as nyāsa units.
Application: In daily pūjā, practitioners can correctly do aṅga-nyāsa for simple name-mantras by assigning each word to the standard limb sequence.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Mantra-nyasa and Anga-vinyasa / Tantric ritual procedure)
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A priest performs aṅga-nyāsa by touching heart/head/topknot etc., while a Viṣṇu icon with Vanamālā and Ananta symbolism is visualized; mantra-words appear as segmented syllable-blocks moving to limbs.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, priest in profile touching limbs in sequence, Viṣṇu with long Vanamālā and subtle Ananta coils behind, mantra-words shown as stylized script segments, warm temple palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central Viṣṇu with heavy gold ornaments and Vanamālā, small side vignette of priest doing nyāsa mudrās, mantra padas in gold cartouches","mysore_prompt":"Mysore, diagrammatic clarity: limb points labeled, mantra split into padas, gentle pastel wash, fine outlines, instructional manuscript aesthetic","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate shrine interior, priest performing nyāsa gestures, floating word-segments of the mantra like calligraphic ribbons, detailed carpets and lamps"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पदैर् अङ्गानि = पदैः + अङ्गानि (visarga → r before vowel).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 25 (nyāsa variants; hr̥dayādi and aṅga-vinyāsa rules)
FAQs
It teaches a practical nyāsa rule: when a mantra lacks bīja-syllables (nirbīja), the practitioner should perform aṅga-nyāsa by assigning the deity’s “limbs” using the mantra’s words (pada) instead of bījas.
Beyond mythic narration, it preserves hands-on ritual technology—mantra construction, bīja vs. pada usage, and procedural nyāsa—showing the text’s coverage of applied liturgy alongside theology.
Correct nyāsa is traditionally held to “seat” the mantra’s power in the body and ritual space, reducing error (doṣa) in worship and enhancing purity, focus, and the intended devotional efficacy of the rite.