Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 24
Chapter 369 — शरीरावयवाः
The Limbs/Organs and Constituents of the Body
मांसस्नायुशिरास्थिन्यः चत्वारश् च पृथक् पृथक् मणिबन्धनगुल्फेषु निबद्धानि परस्परं
māṃsasnāyuśirāsthinyaḥ catvāraś ca pṛthak pṛthak maṇibandhanagulpheṣu nibaddhāni parasparaṃ
Ang laman, snāyu (litid/ligamento), sīrā (daluyan/nāḍī o ugat), at buto—ang apat na ito, na magkakahiwalay—ay magkakabigkis sa isa’t isa sa kasukasuan ng pulsuhan at sa kasukasuan ng bukung-bukong.
Lord Agni (teaching to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s encyclopedic discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Clinical anatomy for understanding joint integrity (wrist/ankle) in trauma care, marma-avoidance, bandaging, and therapeutic manipulation (abhyanga/mardana).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Wrist and ankle joint binding: māṃsa–snāyu–śirā–asthi interlock","lookup_keywords":["maṇibandha","gulpha","māṃsa","snāyu","śirā","asthi"],"quick_summary":"States that muscle, tendon/ligament, vessel, and bone remain distinct yet mutually bound at the wrist and ankle—highlighting composite joint structure relevant to injury and therapy."}
Concept: Functional unity arises from distinct components being ‘bound together’ (paraspra-nibaddha) at key junctions.
Application: Apply systems-thinking in therapy: treat joints by considering all contributing tissues rather than a single structure.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda / Sharira-Rachana (Anatomy and Marma/Joint-structure teaching)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Close anatomical focus on wrist and ankle showing four distinct tissues—muscle, tendon/ligament, vessel, and bone—interlaced and bound at the joint.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized limb close-up, layered bands representing māṃsa, snāyu, śirā, asthi around maṇibandha and gulpha, clear contours, didactic composition.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, two inset panels (wrist and ankle), gold-highlighted outlines for bone and vessel paths, embossed decorative frame, instructional iconography.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, medical-illustration clarity, labeled-looking color coding for four tissues at wrist and ankle, minimal background, precise linework.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, hakim/vaidya demonstrating wrist and ankle anatomy to students, fine detailing of tendons and vessels, manuscript-like margins."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"didactic","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: māṃsasnāyuśirāsthinyaḥ = māṃsa-snāyu-śirā-asthin-yaḥ (द्वन्द्वसमास); catvāraś = catvāraḥ (visarga sandhi); maṇibandhanagulpheṣu = maṇibandhana-gulpheṣu.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 369 (śarīra-racanā and marma enumerations around joints)
FAQs
It conveys anatomical knowledge (Ayurveda/Śārīra): at the wrist and ankle joints, muscle, tendons/ligaments, vessels, and bone are structurally interbound—useful for diagnosis, therapy, and injury management.
Beyond myth and ritual, the text preserves technical Ayurveda—precise joint anatomy and tissue categories—showing the Agni Purana as a compendium spanning medicine, governance, arts, and other sciences.
While primarily medical, such śāstric body-knowledge supports dharma by protecting life and enabling disciplined practice; caring for the body as an instrument of duty is treated as merit-bearing (puṇya) in Purāṇic ethics.