Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 26
Derivation
Uddhāra) of the Sakalādi Mantra (सकलादिमन्त्रोद्धारः
यदा कृतं तदा तस्य ब्रह्माण्यङ्गानि पूर्ववत् ओजाख्यमंशुमद्युक्तं प्रथमं वर्णमुद्धरेत्
yadā kṛtaṃ tadā tasya brahmāṇyaṅgāni pūrvavat ojākhyamaṃśumadyuktaṃ prathamaṃ varṇamuddharet
Khi việc ấy đã được hoàn tất, bấy giờ—khôi phục các chi phần của Phạm Thiên (những bộ phận thân vi tế được nghi lễ hóa) như trước—hành giả nên phát/niệm âm tiết (varṇa) thứ nhất, gọi là “Ojas”, kết hợp với “Aṃśumat” rực sáng.
Lord Agni (teaching to sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Varṇa-nyāsa and subtle-body (brahmāṅga) visualization to stabilize mantra-siddhi before uttering/placing the first bīja/varṇa.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Ojas–Aṃśumat: first varṇa extraction after Brahmāṅga-nyāsa","lookup_keywords":["brahmāṅga","varṇa-uddhāra","ojas","aṃśumat","nyāsa"],"quick_summary":"After completing the prior rite, re-establish the ritual subtle-body limbs (brahmāṅga) and then utter/‘extract’ the first varṇa identified as Ojas, conjoined with the luminous qualifier Aṃśumat."}
Concept: Śabda (varṇa/bīja) is activated through nyāsa: the body is ritually reconstituted as a mantra-body before sound is deployed.
Application: Perform limb-nyāsa first; then pronounce/place the bīja with focused visualization of tejas (radiance) to avoid ‘dry’ recitation.
Khanda Section: Mantra-vidya / Varna-nyasa and subtle-body (Brahmāṅga) visualization
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sādhaka seated in padmāsana, re-touching limbs in nyāsa (brahmāṅga), then uttering a glowing first bīja labeled Ojas with a halo-like Aṃśumat radiance.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, ochre-red background, sādhaka with sacred thread and rudrākṣa, hands touching head-heart-shoulders in nyāsa, luminous syllable glyph hovering, stylized flames of tejas, flat decorative foliage borders","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central sādhaka before a small altar, embossed gold halo around a glowing Sanskrit bīja, rich reds and greens, ornate arch frame, subtle depiction of limb-nyāsa gestures","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean linework, instructional clarity: numbered limb-touch points, small caption-like glyph ‘Ojas’ joined with ‘Aṃśumat’ radiance, soft pastel wash, minimal background","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate interior with carpet and low altar, sādhaka performing nyāsa, delicate calligraphic bīja floating above palm, fine detailing of light rays (aṃśu) and calm atmosphere"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: brahmāṇyaṅgāni → brahmaṇi + aṅgāni; ojākhyamaṃśumadyuktam → ojākhya + aṃśumat + yuktam; varṇamuddharet → varṇam + uddharet
Related Themes: Agni Purana 316 (nyāsa/varṇa-devatā sequence); Agni Purana mantra-vidhi sections on bīja and nyāsa (adjacent verses 316.27–316.30)
FAQs
It teaches a mantra-technical step: after completing the prior rite, the practitioner reinstates the nyāsa-mapped ‘Brahmā-limbs’ and then performs varṇa-uddhāra—drawing out/uttering the first designated syllable, characterized here as ‘Ojas’ combined with ‘Aṃśumat’ (a luminous adjunct).
Beyond myth and devotion, the Agni Purāṇa preserves operational ritual technology—nyāsa, syllable-extraction, and precise phonemic sequencing—showing it functions as a practical handbook for mantra construction and tantric-style liturgy alongside its many other disciplines.
By re-sanctifying the body through brahmāṅga-nyāsa and correctly articulating the empowered syllable, the practitioner aligns speech, body, and vital-force (ojas) for mantra-siddhi—supporting purification, focused consciousness, and ritually effective outcomes.