Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 41
Tvaritā-pūjā (The Worship of Tvaritā) — Transition Verse and Context
मोहणी मोक्षणी चैव ज्वालिनी चामृताभया प्रणीताः पञ्चमुद्रास्तु पूजाहोमे च योजयेत्
mohaṇī mokṣaṇī caiva jvālinī cāmṛtābhayā praṇītāḥ pañcamudrāstu pūjāhome ca yojayet
มุทราทั้งห้า—โมหณี, โมกษณี, ชวาลินี, อมฤตา และ อภัยา—ได้ถูกบัญญัติไว้แล้ว ควรนำไปใช้ทั้งในการบูชา (ปูชา) และพิธีบูชาไฟ (โหมะ)۔
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Operational guidance: apply five named mudrās during both pūjā and homa to activate specific ritual effects (enchantment, liberation, blazing power, nectar/immortality, protection).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Five ritual mudrās for pūjā and homa: Mohanī, Mokṣaṇī, Jvālinī, Amṛtā, Abhayā","lookup_keywords":["mohani mudra","mokshani mudra","jvalini mudra","amrita mudra","abhaya mudra"],"quick_summary":"Lists five prescribed mudrās and instructs their use in both worship and fire-offering, indicating a standardized mudrā-set for the rite."}
Concept: Ritual gestures are functional operators: they modulate states—delusion/enchantment (mohanī), release (mokṣaṇī), fiery purification (jvālinī), nectar-like restoration (amṛtā), and fearlessness (abhayā).
Application: In homa, coordinate mudrā with offering and mantra-japa; in pūjā, coordinate mudrā with upacāra and nyāsa to maintain continuity of intent.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Homa-vidhi (Tantric ritual manual: mudrā-nyāsa and worship applications)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sādhaka performing pūjā before a deity and then homa at a fire-altar, showing five distinct hand-gestures labeled Mohanī, Mokṣaṇī, Jvālinī, Amṛtā, Abhayā.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: split scene—left pūjā with lamps and flowers, right homa with stylized flames; priest hands in five mudrās shown as small sequential vignettes; earthy reds and yellows.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: central homa-kunda with gold flames; priest in silk, hands forming mudrās; deity panel above; gold embossing on ritual vessels; labels in fine script.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: didactic composition with five hand-gesture diagrams around a calm homa scene; clear contours; minimal ornament; emphasis on recognizability of each mudrā.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: intimate indoor ritual chamber; fire-altar, offerings, manuscript; five mudrās depicted in margin medallions; delicate shading and architectural detail."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चामृताभया → च + अमृताभया; पञ्चमुद्रास्तु → पञ्चमुद्राः + तु; पूजाहोमे → पूजा + होमे (dvandva in locative).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 309 (mudrā-lakṣaṇa series); Agni Purana 310–311 (Tvaritā ritual procedures where mudrās may be deployed)
FAQs
It prescribes a practical prayoga: five specific ritual mudrās (Mohanī, Mokṣaṇī, Jvālinī, Amṛtā, Abhayā) are to be performed as part of both pūjā and homa procedures.
By cataloging and standardizing specialized ritual technology (mudrā-prayoga) alongside other disciplines, it shows the Agni Purāṇa functioning as a compact manual of applied religious practice, not only narrative theology.
Using the prescribed mudrās is presented as a correctness-of-rite safeguard: it supports purification, protection (abhayā), energizing/ignition of offerings (jvālinī), and the intended transformative effects of worship and oblations.