Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 1
Derivation
Uddhāra) of the Sakalādi Mantra (सकलादिमन्त्रोद्धारः
इत्य् आग्नेये महापुराणे नानामन्त्रा नाम पञ्चदशाधिकत्रिशततमो ऽध्यायः अथ षोडशाधिकत्रिशततमो ऽध्यायः सकलादिमन्त्रोद्धारः ईश्वर उवाच सकलं निष्कलं शून्यं कलाढ्यं स्वमलङ्कृतम् क्षपणं क्षयमन्तस्थं कण्ठोष्ठं चाष्टमंशिवम्
ity āgneye mahāpurāṇe nānāmantrā nāma pañcadaśādhikatriśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ atha ṣoḍaśādhikatriśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ sakalādimantroddhāraḥ īśvara uvāca sakalaṃ niṣkalaṃ śūnyaṃ kalāḍhyaṃ svamalaṅkṛtam kṣapaṇaṃ kṣayamantasthaṃ kaṇṭhoṣṭhaṃ cāṣṭamaṃśivam
Sa gayon, sa Agni Mahāpurāṇa nagwakas ang ika-315 kabanata na tinawag na “Iba’t ibang Mantra.” Ngayon ay nagsisimula ang ika-316 kabanata: “Paglalantad (uddhāra) ng Mantrang Sakalādi.” Sinabi ng Panginoon: “(Ito) ay sakala (may anyo) at niṣkala (walang bahagi), śūnya (kawalan), sagana sa mga kalā, pinalamutian ng sariling kapangyarihan. Ito ang kṣapaṇa (tagapag-alis), ang kṣaya (tagapagtapos ng pagkasira), nananahan sa loob (antastha); (ito) ay sa lalamunan at mga labi (kaṇṭha–oṣṭha), at ang ikawalo—Śiva, ang mapalad.”
Īśvara (the Lord, in a Śaiva-tantric register)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Use as a doctrinal-phonetic key for extracting/identifying the Sakalādi-mantra and contemplating its layered ontology (sakala/niṣkala/śūnya) during japa and nyāsa.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Sakalādi-mantra: ontological and phonetic markers","lookup_keywords":["sakala-niṣkala","śūnya","kalāḍhya","antastha","kaṇṭhoṣṭha"],"quick_summary":"Defines the mantra’s nature as simultaneously gross and partless, void yet kalā-filled, and hints at its phonetic placement (throat/lips; antastha) for correct extraction and recitation."}
Concept: Mantra as a multi-layered reality: sakala (manifest), niṣkala (partless), śūnya (void) yet kalā-ḍhya (power-filled), culminating in śiva-tattva.
Application: Meditative japa: hold the paradox (void/full; manifest/transcendent) while maintaining precise varṇa-ucchāraṇa (throat/lip articulation) for siddhi-oriented practice.
Khanda Section: Mantra-vidya / Tantra (Mantra extraction and classification)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: śānta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Īśvara teaching a disciple the Sakalādi-mantra’s layered nature, with syllables emerging from throat and lips as luminous seed-letters, and a void-like halo filled with kalā-radiance behind Śiva.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, seated Sadāśiva as guru, disciple with palm-leaf manuscript, glowing bīja-akṣaras floating from Śiva’s mouth, dark śūnya aura with concentric kalā-rings, rich earthy pigments, stylized lotus seat.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Sadāśiva with ornate crown and prabhāmaṇḍala in gold leaf, bīja letters in gold embossing around the mouth/throat region, disciple kneeling, temple interior hints, jewel-toned reds and greens.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional diagram feel: throat (kaṇṭha) and lips (oṣṭha) indicated subtly, bīja-akṣaras arranged in neat arcs, Śiva as teacher with calm expression, fine linework and soft shading.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate teaching scene in a pavilion, Śiva as ascetic-guru with subtle halo, calligraphic Sanskrit syllables in the air, deep indigo background suggesting śūnya, meticulous textiles and borders."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ity āgneye → iti āgneye; 'dhyāyaḥ (ऽ) → adhyāyaḥ; mantroddhāraḥ ← mantra+uddhāraḥ; svamalaṅkṛtam → svaṃ alaṅkṛtam; kṣayamantastham → kṣayaṃ antastham; kaṇṭhoṣṭhaṃ ← kaṇṭha+oṣṭha (dvandva); cāṣṭamam → ca aṣṭamam
Related Themes: Agni Purana 315 (Nānāmantrāḥ); Agni Purana 316 (Sakalādi-mantroद्धāra)
FAQs
It introduces a tantric-style mantra-uddhāra (derivation) framework for the “Sakalādi” mantra series, classifying the mantra through metaphysical states (sakala/niṣkala/śūnya), its kalā-power, and hints of phonetic placement (throat/lips) used for correct recitation.
Beyond narrative Purāṇic material, it preserves technical mantra-science: how mantras are described, derived, and linked to metaphysics and śabda/phonetics—showing the Agni Purāṇa’s coverage of ritual technology alongside theology.
By presenting the mantra as “kṣapaṇa” (sin/impurity-removing) and “kṣaya”-ending, the verse frames correct mantra knowledge and utterance as a means of inner purification and auspicious Śiva-alignment.