Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 9
Chapter 83 — निर्वाणदीक्षाकथनम्
Description of the Nirvāṇa Initiation
संहारमुद्रयाअदाय सूत्रं तेनैव योजयेत् नाडीन्त्वादाय मूलेन सूत्रे न्यस्य हृदार्चयेत्
saṃhāramudrayāadāya sūtraṃ tenaiva yojayet nāḍīntvādāya mūlena sūtre nyasya hṛdārcayet
เมื่อยกด้ายพิธี (สูตระ) ด้วยสังหารมุทราแล้ว พึงผูก/ประกอบด้วยมุทรานั้นเอง จากนั้นด้วยหลักมูละ พึงยกนาฑีทั้งหลาย วางนยาสะลงบนสูตระ แล้วบูชาที่หฤทัย (ใจกลาง).
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Use of Saṃhāra-mudrā to take and fasten the ritual cord; then perform mūla-based nāḍī-nyāsa onto the cord and complete worship at the heart center.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Saṃhāra-mudrā sūtra-bandhana and nāḍī-nyāsa leading to hṛd-arcana","lookup_keywords":["saṃhāra-mudrā","sūtra","nāḍī","mūla","hṛd-arcana"],"quick_summary":"Grasp and secure the ritual cord with Saṃhāra-mudrā, then place the nāḍīs onto the cord via mūla-bhāvanā and worship at the heart."}
Concept: Ritual efficacy is ‘sealed’ by mudrā and internal mapping (nāḍī-nyāsa), culminating in hṛdaya-centered devotion/attention.
Application: Coordinate hand-gesture (mudrā), visualization (nāḍīs), and heart-focused worship to unify body, breath, and mantra.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Tantric ritual procedure, mantra-nyasa and mudra application)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A close-up ritual action: hands forming Saṃhāra-mudrā while fastening a cord; luminous nāḍī lines being ‘placed’ onto the cord; final heart-center worship gesture.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, enlarged hands in mudrā tying a sacred cord, glowing nāḍī lines flowing into the cord, heart lotus emphasized, bold outlines and temple-mural palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-embossed cord and heart lotus, priestly hands in mudrā, ornate ritual tray, radiant highlights for nāḍī placement, rich jewel tones","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, step-by-step instructional composition: (1) saṃhāra-mudrā grasp (2) fastening (3) nāḍī-nyāsa onto cord (4) hṛd-arcana, fine linework and labels","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed hands and cord, subtle glowing lines indicating nāḍīs, intimate shrine setting, meticulous textiles and calm expressions"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: संहारमुद्रयाऽदाय = संहारमुद्रया + आदाय (अ/आ सन्धि; often written mudrayāadāya); तेनैव = तेन + एव; नाडीन्तु = नाडीम् + तु (म् + तु → न्तु).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 83.6; Agni Purana 83.7; Agni Purana 83.10
FAQs
It teaches a precise ritual action: using the Saṃhāra-mudrā to handle and fasten a consecrated cord (sūtra), performing nyāsa of nāḍīs (subtle channels) onto that cord, and completing the act with heart-centered worship (hṛdaya-arcana).
Beyond mythic narration, the Agni Purāṇa preserves practical liturgical technology—mudrā usage, nyāsa (installation), and internal yogic anatomy (nāḍīs, mūla, hṛdaya)—showing its breadth as a manual of temple and tantric ritual procedure.
By aligning external ritual (sūtra, mudrā) with internal sanctification (nāḍī-nyāsa and hṛdaya-arcana), the act is framed as purificatory and concentrative—directing mantra-power inward and stabilizing devotion through disciplined worship.