Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 3
Adhyaya 314 — Tvaritājñāna
Immediate/Quick Knowledge) (Colophon/Transition
चतुष्पादेषु क्रीं कारं ह्रीं कारं मुखमध्यतः गर्भे विद्यां ततो लिख्य साधकं पृष्ठतो लिखेत्
catuṣpādeṣu krīṃ kāraṃ hrīṃ kāraṃ mukhamadhyataḥ garbhe vidyāṃ tato likhya sādhakaṃ pṛṣṭhato likhet
چاروں پاؤں پر ‘کریں’ کار لکھے اور چہرے کے وسط میں ‘ہریں’ کار۔ پھر گربھ (مرکزی حصے) میں ودیا-منتر لکھ کر، پشت کی طرف ‘سाधک’ کا لفظ لکھے۔
Lord Agni (in dialogue with Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Bīja-nyāsa and yantra inscription protocol: place krīṃ on the four feet, hrīṃ at the face-center, write the main vidyā in the garbha, and mark ‘sādhaka’ on the reverse for identification/ownership and ritual linkage.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Kūrma-yantra bīja placement: krīṃ on feet, hrīṃ on face, vidyā in garbha","lookup_keywords":["krim","hrim","bija-nyasa","garbha","sadhaka"],"quick_summary":"The verse specifies exact seed-syllable placement on a tortoise yantra and where to inscribe the core mantra; it also instructs writing ‘sādhaka’ on the back to bind the implement to the practitioner."}
Concept: Bīja-akṣaras function as concentrated śakti; their spatial placement (deha/yantra mapping) is part of mantra’s operative grammar.
Application: Maintain exact bīja placement and preserve the yantra’s orientation (front/back) to avoid ritual ‘miswiring’ and to keep the implement personally keyed to the sādhaka.
Khanda Section: Tantra-Mantra Vidya (Yantra/Lekhana-vidhi, Bija-mantra Nyasa)
Primary Rasa: Adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: Shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Close view of a tortoise yantra: ‘krīṃ’ written on each of four feet, ‘hrīṃ’ at the face center, the main vidyā in the central womb; the birch-bark is flipped to show ‘sādhaka’ written on the reverse.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized tortoise diagram enlarged, bold Devanagari bījas on limbs, sādhaka’s hands writing with stylus, flip-side shown as a secondary vignette with ‘sādhaka’ inscription, ritual lamp glow.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, ornate yantra-tortoise on a gold-accented panel, bīja syllables rendered prominently, sādhaka writing the garbha mantra, gold leaf around the central garbha to signify power.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, technical plate: labeled positions for krīṃ/hrīṃ/vidyā/‘sādhaka’ back inscription, neat calligraphy, minimal figures, emphasis on clarity and placement.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, artisan-priest inscribing bījas on a tortoise diagram at a desk, assistant holding the leaf; a second small inset shows the reverse with ‘sādhaka’, fine calligraphic detail and patterned textiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: मुखमध्यतः = मुख + मध्य + तः (अव्ययीभाव/तसिल्).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 314.2 (drawing and measuring the kūrma on bhūrja; initial nyāsa); Agni Purana 314.4 (mālā-mantra wrapping; iṣṭakā placement; kūrma-pṛṣṭha arrangement; karāla recitation)
FAQs
It teaches precise mantra-inscription (lekhanavidhi/nyāsa) for a ritual diagram or figure: place “krīṃ” on the four feet, “hrīṃ” in the facial center, the main Vidyā-mantra in the central core (garbha), and the practitioner marker “sādhaka” on the reverse.
Beyond myth and devotion, it preserves applied ritual technology—how to construct and label a yantra-like form using bīja-syllables and mantra placement—showing the text’s coverage of practical mantra-śāstra alongside other disciplines.
Correct placement of bīja-mantras and the Vidyā is traditionally held to “activate” the rite, providing protection, siddhi-oriented focus, and ritual purity for the sādhaka through properly formed mantra-nyāsa.