Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 7
Worship by Limb-Syllables
Aṅgākṣara-arcana
एवं रूपानिमान् वर्णान् भावबुद्धान्न्यसेत् क्रमात् हृदास्यनेत्रमूर्धाङ्घ्रितालुगुह्यकरादिषु
evaṃ rūpānimān varṇān bhāvabuddhānnyaset kramāt hṛdāsyanetramūrdhāṅghritāluguhyakarādiṣu
Như vậy, theo đúng thứ tự, hãy an trí các chữ ấy—được quán tưởng theo hình tướng của chúng và được đặt trong chánh niệm tỉnh giác—lên tim, miệng, mắt, đỉnh đầu, bàn chân, vòm miệng (tālu), chỗ kín, hai tay, và các vị trí khác trên thân thể.
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Varṇa-nyāsa/anga-nyāsa: sequentially installing contemplated letters on specified bodily loci (heart, mouth, eyes, head, feet, palate, genitals, hands, etc.) to consecrate the practitioner’s body as a mantra-maṇḍala.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Varṇa-nyāsa on Hṛd–Āsya–Netra–Mūrdhan–Aṅghri–Tālu–Guhya–Kara","lookup_keywords":["varna-nyasa","anga-nyasa","hridaya","netra","guhya"],"quick_summary":"Install the letters in order on the heart and other loci with focused visualization of their forms; this creates an embodied mantra-map used for protection, concentration, and deity-identification in pūjā."}
Concept: Bhāva-buddhi (intentional cognition) is essential: letters are not merely recited but ‘installed’ as living powers across the body’s sacred geography.
Application: During nyāsa, slow down at each locus, visualize the varṇa’s rūpa and color, and maintain a fixed sequence to avoid ‘nyāsa-bhraṃśa’ (procedural lapse).
Khanda Section: Mantra-nyasa and Tantric Visualization (Varna-nyasa / Anga-nyasa)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A diagrammatic yet devotional scene: the practitioner’s body shown with highlighted loci—heart, mouth, eyes, head, feet, palate, secret place, hands—each receiving a glowing Sanskrit letter-form in sequence.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, frontal standing sādhaka figure with highlighted red-gold loci points, each locus bearing a stylized varṇa glyph, subdued temple interior with oil lamp, emphasis on sacred anatomy mapping.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, central figure with gold halos at each nyāsa point (heart, mouth, eyes, head, feet, palate, guhya, hands), embossed gold for glyphs, rich ornamental border like a ritual manual made iconic.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional plate: clean labeled body-loci, delicate glyphs, sequential arrows indicating ‘kramāt’, soft pastel background, calm scholarly aesthetic.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined anatomical pose (modest, stylized), tiny luminous letters placed on loci, courtly atelier feel, margins with calligraphic notes indicating the order."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: रूपानिमान् = रूपान् इमान्; भावबुद्धान्न्यसेत् = भावबुद्धान् न्यसेत् (न् + न्); हृदास्यनेत्रमूर्धाङ्घ्रितालुगुह्यकरादिषु = हृद्-आस्य-नेत्र-मूर्ध-अङ्घ्रि-तालु-गुह्य-कर-आदिषु (समाहार-समासवत् सूचीसमासः).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 302.6; Agni Purana 302.8; Agni Purana 302.9
FAQs
It teaches varṇa-nyāsa: the sequential installation of mantric letters on specific bodily loci (heart, mouth, eyes, head, feet, palate, guhya, hands, etc.) as part of tantric/ritual practice.
Beyond mythic narration, it preserves practical ritual technology—mantra-visualization and bodily nyāsa—showing the Purana as a manual for applied worship (pūjā-vidhi) and esoteric disciplines.
Nyāsa sacralizes the practitioner’s body as a mantra-bearing vessel, strengthening concentration and purity in worship, and is traditionally held to enhance mantra-siddhi and ritual efficacy.