Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 41
Adhyāya 88 — निर्वाणदीक्षाकथनं
Teaching of the Nirvāṇa-Initiation
ततः परं मकारन्तु हृदयाच्चतुरङ्गुलं ओङ्कारं वाचकं विष्णोस्ततो ऽष्टाङ्गुलकण्ठकं
tataḥ paraṃ makārantu hṛdayāccaturaṅgulaṃ oṅkāraṃ vācakaṃ viṣṇostato 'ṣṭāṅgulakaṇṭhakaṃ
ต่อจากนั้นพึงวางพยางค์ “มะ” สูงจากหัวใจสี่อังคุล; แล้วพึงวางพยางค์ “โอม” อันเป็นวาจกของพระวิษณุ ณ บริเวณลำคอ สูงจากหัวใจแปดอังคุล
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Sequential deha-nyasa: install mākāra above the heart by four aṅgulas, then place oṁ at the throat by eight aṅgulas as Viṣṇu-vācaka for stabilizing mantra-devatā identification.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Mākāra at Hṛd-ūrdhva and Oṁ at Kaṇṭha as Viṣṇu-vācaka","lookup_keywords":["mākāra-nyāsa","oṁkāra","viṣṇu-vācaka","hṛdaya","kaṇṭha"],"quick_summary":"Place ‘ma’ four finger-breadths above the heart, then install ‘oṁ’ at the throat (eight finger-breadths) as the signifier of Viṣṇu, aligning breath, speech-center, and deity-focus."}
Concept: Sound (oṁ) functions as devatā-vācaka; bodily loci (hṛd/kaṇṭha) are mapped to inner worship to convert speech and breath into devotion.
Application: During japa, lightly touch/attend to heart and throat centers in order, keeping measurement consistent to maintain ritual continuity and mental steadiness.
Khanda Section: Mantra-nyasa & Tantric Deha-nyasa (Puja-vidhi / Mantra-shastra)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A practitioner marks two luminous points: one above the heart labeled ‘ma’ and one at the throat labeled ‘oṁ’, with a subtle Viṣṇu emblem (śaṅkha-cakra) hovering near the throat center.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized yogin torso with glowing heart and throat lotuses, ‘ma’ above heart, ‘oṁ’ at throat, faint śaṅkha-cakra motifs, earthy reds and ochres","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-embossed throat halo with ‘oṁ’, jeweled Viṣṇu symbols, rich ornamentation, symmetrical composition, devotional radiance","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style instructional plate: clean torso diagram, aṅgula measurements annotated, ‘ma’ and ‘oṁ’ in Devanagari, delicate borders and soft colors","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, precise calligraphy ‘ma’ and ‘oṁ’ placed on a semi-transparent figure, fine gold lines, subtle floral margins, scholarly atelier mood"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: hṛdayāccaturaṅgulaṃ = hṛdayāt caturaṅgulam; viṣṇostato = viṣṇoḥ tataḥ; tato 'ṣṭāṅgula- = tataḥ aṣṭāṅgula-.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 88 (nyāsa of syllables across bodily stations)
FAQs
It teaches deha-nyāsa (body-installation) using measured aṅgula distances: placing “ma” four aṅgulas above the heart and installing “oṁ” (praṇava) at the throat as Viṣṇu’s vācaka (verbal signifier) during mantra practice.
Beyond mythology, it preserves precise, practitioner-oriented ritual technology—standardized measurements, bodily loci, and mantra-semantics (oṁ as vācaka of Viṣṇu)—showing the Agni Purāṇa’s coverage of applied mantra-śāstra and pūjā-vidhi.
Correct nyāsa is held to ‘activate’ mantra-japa by aligning speech (oṁ at the throat) and inner devotion (near the heart), supporting purification, steadiness of mind, and Viṣṇu-bhakti through disciplined ritual embodiment.