Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 40
Chapter 72 — स्नानविशेषादिकथनम्
Special Rules of Bathing, Mantra-Purification, and Sandhyā
ह्रां हृद्याय ह्रीं शिरसे ह्रूं शिखायै ह्रैं कवचाय अस्त्रायाष्टौ देवगणान् हृदादित्येभ्य एव च
hrāṃ hṛdyāya hrīṃ śirase hrūṃ śikhāyai hraiṃ kavacāya astrāyāṣṭau devagaṇān hṛdādityebhya eva ca
ให้วาง “หราม (Hrāṃ)” ที่ดวงใจ, “หรีม (Hrīṃ)” ที่ศีรษะ, “หรูม (Hrūṃ)” ที่ศิขา (จุกผม), “หไรṃ (Hraiṃ)” เป็นกวจะ (เกราะคุ้มครอง); แล้วจึงประยุกต์มนตร์อัสตร (อาวุธ). ดังนี้ให้ทำญาส/อาวาหนะเทพหมู่ทั้งแปด ตั้งแต่เทพแห่งหฤทัยไปจนถึงเหล่าอาทิตยะด้วย.
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Mantra-nyāsa for pūjā: placing bīja-syllables on specific limbs (aṅga-nyāsa) to ritually ‘seal’ the body as the deity’s seat and to invoke protective coverings (kavaca/astra).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Aṅga-nyāsa with bīja-mantras (hṛd-śiras-śikhā-kavaca-astra) and devatā-gaṇa invocation","lookup_keywords":["aṅga-nyāsa","kavaca","astra-mantra","bīja hrāṃ hrīṃ hrūṃ hraiṃ","devagaṇa āhuti"],"quick_summary":"Assign hrāṃ/hrīṃ/hrūṃ/hraiṃ to heart, head, śikhā, and armor, then apply astra; this completes protective nyāsa and extends invocation to the eight devatā-groups up to the Ādityas."}
Concept: Deha as devatā-āyatana: the body is ritually transformed into a protected locus for worship through nyāsa and kavaca/astra sealing.
Application: Before japa/homa/pūjā, perform aṅga-nyāsa to stabilize attention and establish ritual protection (rakṣā) and eligibility (adhikāra) for offerings.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Mantra-nyasa and Devata-anga-mantras)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritualist performing aṅga-nyāsa: touching heart, head, śikhā region, then tracing an armor-like protective circle and concluding with astra-gesture; subtle presence of eight devatā-gaṇas culminating in the Ādityas as a radiant solar ring.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, priest in white dhoti performing nyāsa mudrā touching heart and head, luminous bīja syllables hrāṃ hrīṃ hrūṃ hraiṃ floating near limbs, circular kavaca aura, eight devatā groups as stylized celestial attendants, warm ochres and reds, flat iconic composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central worshipper before a small altar, embossed gold kavaca halo around the body, bīja letters in gold, radiant Ādityas as a golden solar disc above, rich jewel tones, ornate borders","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional diagram-like scene: labeled body points (hṛd, śiras, śikhā, kavaca, astra), priest demonstrating touch-points, delicate linework, muted palette, clear didactic layout","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly ritual chamber, scholar-priest performing nyāsa gestures, fine calligraphy of bīja syllables in the margins, celestial Ādityas depicted as a sunburst in the sky panel, intricate textiles and architectural details"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: astrāyāṣṭau = astrāya + aṣṭau; hṛdādityebhya = hṛdādityebhyaḥ (visarga-lopa before vowel); devagaṇān (final -n for accusative plural).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 72 (pūjā-vidhi: nyāsa, kavaca, astra, devatā-tarpaṇa sequences)
FAQs
It teaches mantra-nyāsa: placing specific bīja-syllables on the heart, head, śikhā, and as kavaca, followed by applying the astra-mantra for ritual protection, along with invoking a structured set of devagaṇas (including the Ādityas).
It preserves a practical, step-by-step ritual technology (nyāsa, kavaca, astra) alongside deity-classification (devagaṇas/Ādityas), showing the Agni Purana’s manual-like coverage of mantra practice in addition to narrative theology.
Nyāsa and kavaca-astra applications are intended to purify the practitioner’s body as a ritual seat of divinity and to create protective boundaries, reducing obstacles (vighna) and supporting focused worship with auspicious merit.