Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 30
Pratiṣṭhā-Kalaśa-Śodhana-Ukti (Instruction on Purifying the Consecration Pitcher) — Chapter 85
बाहुमुक्तार्धदृश्येन चन्द्रविम्बेन सन्निभं संहारमुद्रया स्वस्थं विधायोद्भवमुद्रया
bāhumuktārdhadṛśyena candravimbena sannibhaṃ saṃhāramudrayā svasthaṃ vidhāyodbhavamudrayā
ด้วยมุทราที่แขนคลายออกบางส่วนจนเห็นเพียงครึ่งหนึ่ง ดุจดวงจันทร์ จงตั้งมั่นรูป/พิธีด้วยสังหารมุทราก่อน แล้วจึงทำให้ปรากฏด้วยอุทภวมุทรา
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha, as the default Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Ritual hand-gestures (mudrā) used in pūjā to stabilize the invoked presence and then bring about its manifest appearance in the rite.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Saṃhāra- and Udbhava-mudrā for Stabilization and Manifestation","lookup_keywords":["saṃhāra-mudrā","udbhava-mudrā","mudrā-vidhi","candra-vimba","pūjā-nyāsa"],"quick_summary":"First employ Saṃhāra-mudrā to make the rite/deity-form steady and contained; then apply Udbhava-mudrā to cause the invoked form to arise/manifest, using a moon-orb-like hand configuration."}
Alamkara Type: Upamā (simile: resembling the orb of the moon)
Concept: Saṃhāra (withdrawal/containment) preceding Udbhava (arising/manifestation) as a controlled sequence in ritual efficacy
Application: Use ordered inner attention with outer gesture: first collect and stabilize the invoked power, then project/establish it as a perceptible presence in worship.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Tantric Mudra-Vidhi / Iconographic Ritual Gestures)
Primary Rasa: Adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: Shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A priest in pūjā posture forms a moon-disc-like hand gesture; first a ‘withdrawing/closing’ mudrā (saṃhāra) then an ‘arising/opening’ mudrā (udbhava) before a sanctified icon or kalaśa.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat luminous colors, priest performing saṃhāra-mudrā then udbhava-mudrā before a glowing devatā aura, moon-disc motif near the hands, traditional lamps, sacred calm atmosphere","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, rich reds and greens, gold leaf highlights on the moon-orb halo and ritual vessels, priest hands prominently posed in mudrā sequence, ornate arch framing the shrine","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, delicate linework, instructional clarity: two-panel depiction showing saṃhāra-mudrā then udbhava-mudrā, labeled hand positions, subdued pastel palette, temple interior","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, fine detailing of hands and textiles, courtly precision, shrine niche with icon, two sequential gestures shown in a split scene, soft shading and architectural borders"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: bāhumuktārdhadṛśyena = bāhu-mukta-ardha-dṛśyena; vidhāyodbhavamudrayā = vidhāya udbhava-mudrayā.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 85 (Pratiṣṭhā-kalaśa-śodhana; mudrā/nyāsa context); Agni Purana 86 (Vidyā-śodhana; mantra-tattva sequencing)
FAQs
It teaches a specific mudrā-sequence used in worship: first applying Saṃhāra-mudrā to stabilize/withdraw and set the rite into composure, then applying Udbhava-mudrā to bring about the intended manifestation (appearance/activation) of the deity or ritual effect.
Beyond mythic narration, the Agni Purāṇa preserves precise procedural liturgy—here, technical mudrā-operations and their intended effects—showing its role as a compendium of practical ritual science alongside other domains like polity, medicine, and the arts.
Correct mudrā-performance is presented as a means to make worship effective and orderly—purifying the practitioner’s intention, establishing ritual stability, and enabling a sanctioned ‘manifestation’ of the divine presence, thereby increasing the merit (puṇya) and efficacy of the rite.