Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 16
Chapter 83 — निर्वाणदीक्षाकथनम्
Description of the Nirvāṇa Initiation
विद्यादेहञ्च विन्यस्य शान्त्यतीतावलोकनं तस्यामितरतत्त्वाद्यं मन्त्रभूतं विचिन्तयेत्
vidyādehañca vinyasya śāntyatītāvalokanaṃ tasyāmitaratattvādyaṃ mantrabhūtaṃ vicintayet
เมื่อทำนยาสะโดยสถาปนา ‘กายแห่งวิทยา’ (พลังมนตร์) ไว้ในตนแล้ว พึงเพ่งพิจารณาทัศนะที่เหนือกว่าศานติ และภายในนั้นพึงใคร่ครวญตัตตวะอันหลากหลายเริ่มด้วย ‘อิตระ’ ว่ามีสภาวะเป็นมนตร์।
Lord Agni (in instruction to Vasiṣṭha, the standard Agni Purana discourse frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Nyāsa and internal visualization to install mantric power (vidyā-deha) and contemplate tattvas as mantra for deepening dhyāna and mantra-siddhi.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Vidyā-deha-nyāsa and Śāntyatīta-avalokana (tattva-mantra-dhyāna)","lookup_keywords":["vidyādeha-nyāsa","śāntyatīta-avalokana","tattva-dhyāna","mantra-bhāva","yoga-vidyā"],"quick_summary":"After installing the mantric ‘body of vidyā’ through nyāsa, contemplate the śāntyatīta (beyond-peace) vision and recognize differentiated tattvas as mantra-forms to stabilize nondual absorption."}
Concept: Tattvas are contemplated as mantra (mantra-bhūta) within śāntyatīta awareness after nyāsa establishes the vidyā-deha.
Application: Use nyāsa as a preparatory ‘somatic’ anchor, then shift to tattva-as-mantra contemplation to prevent distraction and deepen samāveśa.
Khanda Section: Yoga-vidya / Mantra-dhyana (Tantric contemplative practice)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A yogin seated in padmāsana performs nyāsa, touching limbs with mantra, then visualizes a luminous transcendent field beyond calm, where tattvas appear as vibrating mantra-syllables.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, seated yogin with sacred markings performing nyāsa, subtle aura layers labeled as tattvas, luminous white-blue śāntyatīta halo, flat decorative foliage border, traditional pigments","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central yogin with embossed gold aura, stylized lotus seat, mantra-syllables as gold calligraphic motifs around the body, rich reds and greens, temple-like framing","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional composition showing nyāsa hand-placements on body, neat linework, soft colors, small captions for tattvas/mantra-bhāva, serene background","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate interior with yogin on carpet, delicate rendering of hands touching limbs (nyāsa), translucent cloud-like aura with tiny script-like mantra forms, fine detailing and subdued palette"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Ahir Bhairav","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: विद्यादेहञ्च → विद्या-देहम् + च; शान्त्यतीतावलोकनं → शान्ति-अतीत-अवलोकनम्; तस्यामितरतत्त्वाद्यं → तस्य + अमितर-तत्त्व-आद्यम्; मन्त्रभूतं → मन्त्र-भूतम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 83.17; Agni Purana 83.18; Agni Purana 83.19; Agni Purana 83.20
FAQs
It teaches mantra-nyāsa (installing the ‘vidyā-body’ on oneself) followed by a specific contemplative practice: perceiving a state beyond ordinary tranquility and viewing the tattvas (principles of manifestation) as mantric realities.
Alongside myth and dharma, the Agni Purana preserves applied sādhanā-technology—nyāsa, mantra-theory, and tattva-based contemplation—showing its coverage of practical yogic/tantric methods as part of a broader knowledge compendium.
By internalizing mantra through nyāsa and contemplating tattvas as mantra, the practitioner refines perception from multiplicity to sacred vibration, supporting purification, steadiness of mind, and non-dual insight beyond conventional ‘peace’ states.