Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 21
Chapter 59 — अधिवासनकथनं
Adhivāsana: The Rite of Inviting and Stabilizing Hari’s Presence
तकारं गन्धतन्मात्रं जङ्घयोर्विनिवेशयेत् णकारं श्रोत्रयोर् न्यस्य ढकारं विन्यसेत्त्वचि
takāraṃ gandhatanmātraṃ jaṅghayorviniveśayet ṇakāraṃ śrotrayor nyasya ḍhakāraṃ vinyasettvaci
พึงวางพยางค์ ‘ตะ’ อันเป็นคันธตันมาตระ (แก่นละเอียดแห่งกลิ่น) ไว้ที่น่องทั้งสอง และเมื่อวางพยางค์ ‘ณะ’ ไว้ที่หูทั้งสองแล้ว พึงประดิษฐานพยางค์ ‘ฒะ’ ไว้ที่ผิวหนัง
Lord Agni (in instruction-mode, teaching ritual/nyāsa procedure)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Nyasa mapping of tanmatras and indriya-sites: smell to shanks, hearing to ears, and a matrika to skin—used to consecrate sensory field and body-sheath for worship.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Nyasa of Gandha-tanmatra (ta), Shrotra (ṇa), and Tvak (ḍha)","lookup_keywords":["gandha-tanmātra","śrotra","tvak","takara","ṇakara"],"quick_summary":"Install ‘ta’ as smell-essence in the shanks, ‘ṇa’ in the ears, and ‘ḍha’ in the skin—systematically sacralizing sensory organs through matrika-nyasa."}
Concept: Indriyas and tanmatras are ritually re-coded as mantra; the practitioner treats the body as a yantra with distributed phonemic powers.
Application: During bhuta-shuddhi, touch/visualize loci while mentally placing the syllables; use to reduce sensory distraction by converting sensation into mantra-awareness.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Tantra-nyasa (Mantra-body installation and subtle-element mapping)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Yogin touches both shanks for ‘ta’ (smell essence), then ears for ‘ṇa’, then traces along skin for ‘ḍha’, with subtle scent and sound motifs around the body.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, yogin with highlighted shanks bearing ‘त’, ears bearing ‘ण’, skin outlined with ‘ढ’, stylized incense (gandha) and conch-sound motifs, temple-like backdrop.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold accents on ears and skin outline, ‘त’ on shanks, ornate incense burner symbolizing gandha, rich textile details, symmetrical composition.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style instructional plate: clear depiction of shanks/ears/skin loci, fine inscriptions ‘त gandha’, ‘ण śrotra’, ‘ढ tvak’, muted palette, precise gestures.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature with delicate realism: yogin seated, attendants holding incense and a small bell (sound), calligraphic syllables near shanks and ears, floral border."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shree","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: जङ्घयोर्विनिवेशयेत् = जङ्घयोः + विनिवेशयेत्; विन्यसेत्त्वचि = विन्यसेत् + त्वचि
Related Themes: Agni Purana 59 (continuation of matrika/tanmatra nyasa)
FAQs
It teaches a specific nyāsa sequence: installing phonemic bījas (ta, ṇa, ḍha) onto body loci (shanks, ears, skin) while associating them with subtle principles like the tanmātra of smell.
Beyond myth and devotion, it preserves practical ritual technology—mantra-phoneme correspondences, subtle-element theory (tanmātras), and embodied liturgy—showing the Purana’s coverage of tantric-ritual sciences alongside other disciplines.
Nyāsa sacralizes the practitioner’s body as a mantra-seat, aiming at purification of the senses and steady concentration, thereby making worship more efficacious and spiritually meritorious.