Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 57
Chapter 24 — कुण्डनिर्माणादिविधिः
Procedure for Constructing the Fire-pit and Related Rites
तज्जपन्तञ्च तर्जन्या मण्डलस्थं विसर्जयेत्
tajjapantañca tarjanyā maṇḍalasthaṃ visarjayet
诵持彼咒之时，应以食指将置于曼荼罗（maṇḍala）中的事物作遣散（释放）。
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in ritual procedure)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Mantra-japa with mudrā/gesture: using the index finger (tarjanī) to ritually dismiss (visarjana) a deity/energy/nyāsa element placed in a maṇḍala at the conclusion or transition of a rite.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Maṇḍala-stha visarjana with tarjanī during mantra-japa","lookup_keywords":["japa","tarjanī","maṇḍala","visarjana","mudrā"],"quick_summary":"During mantra recitation, perform a formal dismissal of the invoked presence/placement within the maṇḍala using the tarjanī gesture, ensuring proper closure and containment of the ritual act."}
Concept: Ritual completeness (pūrṇatā) requires proper visarjana; mudrā and mantra act together to regulate invocation and withdrawal.
Application: After japa/āvāhana-related acts, perform explicit visarjana with the prescribed gesture to avoid ‘unfinished’ ritual states and to transition safely to concluding rites.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Mantra-japa and Mudra-prayoga (Ritual Procedure)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual maṇḍala is drawn on the floor; the practitioner chants while extending the index finger in a precise gesture to dismiss the invoked presence from the maṇḍala, with lamps and offerings nearby.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, geometric maṇḍala on floor, priest/guru in profile with tarjanī raised, stylized lamps and offering plates, strong outlines and sacred symmetry","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold accents on lamps and vessels, central maṇḍala with ornate borders, priest’s hand gesture emphasized, rich reds and greens, devotional ritual interior","mysore_prompt":"Mysore, technical depiction: clear maṇḍala lines, close-up emphasis on tarjanī mudrā, calm instructional scene with minimal background clutter","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed floor pattern maṇḍala, fine rendering of hand gesture, attendants and ritual items, delicate shading and architectural framing"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तज्जपन्तञ्च→तत् + जपन्तम् + च.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 24.56
FAQs
It teaches the ritual “visarjana” (dismissal/concluding release) performed during mantra-japa, specifically using the tarjanī (index finger) to dismiss what is established in the maṇḍala.
Beyond mythology, the Agni Purana preserves practical liturgical micro-instructions—how to use gestures (mudrā), maṇḍalas, and concluding rites—showing it functions as a manual of applied ritual technology.
Visarjana properly “closes” the rite, preventing ritual incompleteness; it signifies respectful release of invoked energies/deities and supports purity, order, and the intended merit (puṇya) of the practice.