Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 30
Tvaritā-pūjā (The Worship of Tvaritā) — Transition Verse and Context
आदिवीजं न्यसेन्मन्त्री तर्जन्यादि पुनः पुनः ऊर्धं सोममधः पद्मं शरीरं वीजविग्रहं
ādivījaṃ nyasenmantrī tarjanyādi punaḥ punaḥ ūrdhaṃ somamadhaḥ padmaṃ śarīraṃ vījavigrahaṃ
ผู้ปฏิบัติมนตร์พึงทำนยาสะแห่งพีชดั้งเดิมซ้ำแล้วซ้ำเล่า เริ่มที่นิ้วชี้และนิ้วอื่น ๆ พึงเพ่งเห็นโสมะ (จันทร์) อยู่เบื้องบน ปัทมะอยู่เบื้องล่าง และกายนี้เป็นรูปสถิตแห่งพีชมนตร์
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in ritual procedure, per the Agni Purāṇa’s common dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Perform bīja-nyāsa on fingers (starting with index) and stabilize mantra-śarīra bhāvanā: moon above, lotus below, body as bīja-vigraha for japa and protection.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Ādibīja-aṅguli-nyāsa and bīja-vigraha-dhyāna (Soma ūrdhva, Padma adhaḥ)","lookup_keywords":["nyāsa","ādibīja","aṅguli","soma","padma"],"quick_summary":"Repeat placement of the primordial seed-mantra on the fingers, then visualize a lunar sphere above and a lotus below, recognizing the body itself as the embodied form of the bīja to empower mantra-practice."}
Alamkara Type: Lakṣaṇā/Upacāra (body ‘as’ bīja-vigraha)
Concept: Deha as mantra-mūrti: the practitioner’s body is sacralized as the locus of mantra, integrating speech-power with embodiment.
Application: Before japa, do finger-nyāsa to anchor attention; maintain Soma–Padma axis to reduce mental scattering and deepen mantra-identification.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Mantra-nyasa and Tantric visualization (Mantra-shastra)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Close view of hands performing finger-nyāsa; above the sādhaka’s head a glowing moon-disc, below a lotus pedestal; the body subtly inscribed with bīja syllables as radiant marks.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, prominent hands with inter-finger markings, moon-disc above crown, lotus below seat, bīja syllables as stylized script motifs, warm earthy background.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-leaf moon halo above, lotus throne with gold embossing, hands in foreground with jewel-like highlights, bīja letters in decorative script.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore, instructional composition: sequential finger placements shown with small inset panels, central figure with moon above and lotus below, clean lines and soft tones.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined hands and rosary, moon-disc rendered as pale wash, lotus as delicate botanical motif, bīja letters as fine calligraphy around the figure."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: न्यसेन्मन्त्री = न्यसेत् + मन्त्री (t/d sandhi); सोममधः = सोमम् + अधः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 309 (nyāsa and dhyāna instructions contiguous)
FAQs
It teaches bīja-mantra nyāsa—ritually “placing” the seed-syllable on the fingers (starting with the index finger) and reinforcing it through repeated application, along with a prescribed visualization (Moon above, lotus below).
Beyond mythology, it preserves practical ritual technology—nyāsa, bīja-mantra usage, and structured visualization—showing the Agni Purāṇa’s coverage of applied mantra-śāstra and pūjā-vidhi alongside its many other disciplines.
Nyāsa and visualization sacralize the practitioner’s body as a mantra-body (bīja-vigraha), aiming at purification, steadiness of mind, and effective mantra-siddhi through disciplined, repeated ritual internalization.