Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 34
Explanation of the Vāsudeva and Related Mantras (वासुदेवादिमन्त्रनिरूपणम्)
अङ्गुष्ठकद्वये वह्निस्तर्जन्यादौ परेषु च शिरोललाटवक्त्रेषु हृन्नाभिगुह्यजानुषु
aṅguṣṭhakadvaye vahnistarjanyādau pareṣu ca śirolalāṭavaktreṣu hṛnnābhiguhyajānuṣu
دونوں انگوٹھوں پر ‘وہنی’ (آگ کے اصول/منتر) کا نیاس کرے؛ اور اسی طرح شہادت کی انگلی سے شروع کرکے باقی انگلیوں پر بھی ترتیب سے رکھے۔ پھر سر، پیشانی، چہرہ، دل، ناف، شرمگاہ اور گھٹنوں پر بھی نیاس کرے۔
Lord Agni (traditionally instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in Agni Purana’s ritual-technical sections)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Mantra-nyāsa for ritual purification and deity-identification by placing the Vahni-bīja/tattva on specific fingers and bodily loci before japa or pūjā.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Vahni-tattva Nyāsa on Fingers and Body (Aṅga-nyāsa)","lookup_keywords":["nyāsa","vahni","aṅguṣṭha","aṅga-nyāsa","mudrā"],"quick_summary":"Place the fire principle/mantra on both thumbs, then on the remaining fingers, and further on head/forehead/face and core bodily centers (heart, navel, genitals, knees) to consecrate the body as a mantra-seat."}
Concept: Deha as mantra-mandala: bodily loci become seats of tattva/bīja through nyāsa.
Application: Use as a preparatory limb (aṅga) before japa, homa, or pūjā to stabilize attention and sacralize the practitioner’s body.
Khanda Section: Yoga–Tantra / Nyasa–Mudra (Mantra-nyasa and bodily placements)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A seated sādhaka performs kara-nyāsa: touching thumbs, fingers, then head, forehead, face, heart, navel, genitals, and knees, with a subtle flame aura indicating Vahni-tattva.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat bold colors, seated yogi-sādhaka with sacred thread, hands in nyāsa gestures touching thumbs and fingers, stylized flame halo (vahni) around hands and torso, minimal background, traditional ornament borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, rich gold leaf highlights on flame motifs and jewelry, sādhaka seated on lotus pedestal, hands touching thumbs/fingers in sequence, glowing heart and navel centers marked with gold, temple lamp in background.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, delicate linework, instructional composition showing numbered finger placements and body points (head, forehead, face, heart, navel, genitals, knees), soft pastel palette, calm devotional ambience.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, fine detailing of hands and anatomy points, sādhaka in a pavilion, attendants holding manuscript, subtle flame iconography near thumbs and heart, annotated margins suggesting nyāsa sequence."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अङ्गुष्ठकद्वये = अङ्गुष्ठक-द्वये; वahnistarjanyādau = वह्निः तर्जनी-आदौ; शिरोललाटवक्त्रेषु = शिरः-ललाट-वक्त्रेषु; हृन्नाभिगुह्यजानुषु = हृत्-नाभि-गुह्य-जानुषु.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 25 (Nyāsa–Mudrā context); Agni Purana mantra-nyāsa/aṅga-nyāsa sections nearby
FAQs
It teaches nyāsa—ritually “installing” the Vahni/Agni mantra or fire-principle onto specific bodily points (thumbs, fingers, head/forehead/face, heart, navel, genital region, knees) as part of kara-nyāsa and aṅga-nyāsa.
Beyond mythology, it preserves precise, procedural ritual technology—mapping mantras onto anatomy—showing the Purana’s coverage of tantric-puja methods alongside many other sciences.
Nyāsa sacralizes the practitioner’s body as a mantra-field, aiming at purification, ritual efficacy (siddhi of the rite), and focused devotional concentration by internalizing the deity’s presence.