Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 26
Daṣṭa-cikitsā (Treatment for Bites) — Mantra-Dhyāna-Auṣadha Protocols for Viṣa
पादजानुगुहानाभिहृत्कण्ठाननमूर्धसु मन्त्रार्णान्न्यस्य करयोरङ्गुष्ठाद्यङ्गुलीषु च
pādajānuguhānābhihṛtkaṇṭhānanamūrdhasu mantrārṇānnyasya karayoraṅguṣṭhādyaṅgulīṣu ca
เมื่อวางพยางค์แห่งมนตร์ (นยาสะ) ลงที่เท้า เข่า ขาหนีบ สะดือ หทัย ลำคอ ใบหน้า และศีรษะแล้ว พึงวางต่อที่มือทั้งสอง—ที่นิ้วหัวแม่มือและนิ้วอื่น ๆ ด้วย
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s instructional discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Mantra-nyāsa/anga-nyāsa in pūjā: mapping mantra-syllables onto body-limbs and fingers to sacralize the practitioner and stabilize japa/arcana.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Aṅga-nyāsa: mantra-varṇa placement on limbs and fingers","lookup_keywords":["aṅga-nyāsa","kara-nyāsa","mantrārṇa","pūjā-vidhi","śarīra-nyāsa"],"quick_summary":"Place the mantra’s syllables sequentially on major body-points from feet to head, then on the hands—thumb and other fingers—establishing the mantra in the body before worship or japa."}
Concept: Deha as mantra-adhāra (body as the seat of mantra) through nyāsa.
Application: Use systematic limb-and-finger nyāsa to focus attention, reduce distraction, and ritually ‘install’ the deity/mantra prior to pūjā.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Mantra-nyasa and Anga-nyasa)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sādhaka seated in pūjā posture, touching feet, knees, navel, heart, throat, face, head, then placing mantra on thumb and fingers—subtle syllables depicted as seed-letters glowing on each point.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat rich colors, sādhaka in white dhoti seated on kusa mat, glowing bīja-akṣaras on feet-to-head points and on fingers, minimal background with lamp and kalasha, sacred calm","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, ornate frame, gold-leaf halos around body-points, stylized hands showing thumb and fingers marked with bīja letters, pūjā items (lamp, flowers) with gold highlights","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, fine linework, instructional clarity: sequential body-points labeled with small Sanskrit bīja letters, hands enlarged to show thumb and finger placements, soft pastel palette","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed interior of a shrine room, practitioner performing nyāsa with precise hand placement, tiny calligraphic akṣaras floating near limbs, delicate textiles and incense smoke"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: हृत्कण्ठाननमूर्धसु = हृत् + कण्ठ + आनन + मूर्धसु (समाहार-सूची); मन्त्रार्णान्न्यस्य = मन्त्र + अर्णान् + न्यस्य; करयोरङ्गुष्ठाद्यङ्गुलीषु = करयोः + अङ्गुष्ठ + आद्य + अङ्गुलीषु
Related Themes: Agni Purana 294 (Daṣṭa-cikitsā context: protective rites); Agni Purana 295 (Rudra-vidhāna continuation)
FAQs
It teaches nyāsa—systematically assigning mantra-syllables to specific body locations (aṅga-nyāsa) and to the thumb and fingers (kara-nyāsa) as part of mantra-sādhana and pūjā.
Beyond mythology, the Agni Purāṇa functions as a practical ritual compendium: this verse preserves a precise, procedural template for mantra-application used in tantric and temple liturgies.
Nyāsa is understood to sacralize and ‘install’ the mantra’s power in the practitioner’s body, promoting ritual purity, concentration, and fitness (adhikāra) for worship and japa.