Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 7
Chapter 347: One-syllable Appellations (एकाक्षराभिधानम्)
ठश् चन्द्रमण्डले शून्ये शिवे चोद्बन्धने मतः डश् च रुद्रे ध्वनौ त्रासे ढक्वायां ढो ध्वनौ मतः
ṭhaś candramaṇḍale śūnye śive codbandhane mataḥ ḍaś ca rudre dhvanau trāse ḍhakvāyāṃ ḍho dhvanau mataḥ
‘ٹھ’ چاند کے گول دائرے، خلا/شونیتا، شِو اور ‘اُدبندھن’ (باندھنا/لٹکانا) کے معنی میں مانا گیا ہے۔ ‘ڈ’ رُدر، آواز اور خوف کے لیے آتا ہے؛ اور ‘ڈھ’ ‘ڈھکوا’ کے تلفظ سے پیدا ہونے والی آواز کی دلالت کرتا ہے۔
Lord Agni (narrating the encyclopedic teachings of the Agni Purana)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Alamkara","practical_application":"Used as a matrika-lexicon for interpreting seed-syllables and phonemes in mantra, yantra labeling, and esoteric glosses; also supports poetic coded reference.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Varṇa-artha: ṭha–ḍha (lunar/void/Śiva; Rudra/sound/fear; onomatopoeia)","lookup_keywords":["ṭha candra-maṇḍala","śūnya","Śiva udbandhana","ḍa Rudra dhvani trāsa","ḍha ḍhakvā dhvani"],"quick_summary":"Assigns multiple semantic fields to ṭha, ḍa, and ḍha—cosmic (moon/void), deity (Śiva/Rudra), affect (fear), and sound-symbolic usage."}
Alamkara Type: Dhvani
Concept: Nāda and śūnya symbolism: phoneme as a bridge between sound, deity, and metaphysical categories (void, lunar sphere).
Application: In mantra-japa or yantra annotation, use these mappings to select/interpret syllables aligned with Śiva/Rudra, nāda, or śūnya contemplation.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Varna-vidya / Matrika-nighantu: phonetic-semantic assignments of syllables)
Primary Rasa: Adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: Bhayānaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A diagrammatic teaching scene: the moon-disc (candra-maṇḍala) and a void-circle labeled śūnya beside a serene Śiva; a fierce Rudra with vibrating sound-waves; a small vignette showing the onomatopoeic utterance ‘ḍhakvā’ as sound ripples.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, bold outlines, moon-disc and śūnya circle motifs, Śiva calm with crescent moon, Rudra dynamic with sound-wave bands, Sanskrit labels ṭha/ḍa/ḍha, temple-wall iconographic clarity","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold haloed moon-disc, Śiva with gold ornaments, Rudra with fiery aura, embossed gold sound-wave motifs, labeled syllables in decorative cartouches","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, refined instructional diagram blended with figures, clear labeling of ṭha=moon/void/Śiva, ḍa=Rudra/sound/fear, ḍha=ḍhakvā sound, soft colors, pedagogic composition","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scientific-illustration feel with celestial disc and void symbol, Śiva and Rudra in separate panels, fine calligraphy labels, delicate borders and architectural framing"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"mystic-didactic","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चोद्बन्धने = च + उद्बन्धने.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 347 (mātrikā-varṇa-artha continuation)
FAQs
It teaches a Varna-vidya (letter-to-meaning mapping) where specific syllables (ṭha, ḍa, ḍha) are assigned semantic fields—moon/void/Śiva, Rudra/sound/fear, and a particular sound-value—useful for mantra interpretation, mnemonic cataloging, and esoteric phonetic analysis.
Beyond myth and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves technical catalogues—here, a phonetic-semantic glossary of syllables—showing its coverage of linguistic/śāstric topics alongside theology, making it a compendium of practical and symbolic knowledge.
By linking syllables with deities and principles (Śiva, Rudra, the void, the moon), the verse frames sound (śabda) as spiritually charged; correct understanding and use of such sounds in recitation supports purity of mantra-prayoga and focused devotional contemplation.