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
บนฐานบูชา ณ เบื้องซ้ายของพระศิวะ พึงเพ่งภาวนารูปอวิยักตะ (ไม่ปรากฏ). เมื่อปรากฏแล้ว พระนางมีสองเนตร เป็นมนตรารูปสามพยางค์ บริสุทธิ์ และเป็นหนึ่งเดียวกับพระศังกร
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.