Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 11
Explanation of the Vāsudeva and Related Mantras (वासुदेवादिमन्त्रनिरूपणम्)
हृदयञ्च शिरश्चूडा कवचं नेत्रमस्त्रकं षडङ्गानि तु वीजानां मूलस्य द्वादशाङ्गकं
hṛdayañca śiraścūḍā kavacaṃ netramastrakaṃ ṣaḍaṅgāni tu vījānāṃ mūlasya dvādaśāṅgakaṃ
咒之诸支（aṅga）为：心、头、顶髻/冠（cūḍā/śikhā）、甲胄（kavaca）、眼，以及阿斯特拉（astra，武器咒）。此为种子咒（bīja）之六支；至于根本咒（root-mantra），则有十二支之安立。
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, the usual Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Establishing protective and empowering ṣaḍaṅga-nyāsa (heart, head, crown, armor, eyes, astra) and recognizing when a root-mantra requires a dvādaśāṅga expansion.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Ṣaḍaṅga Nyāsa and Dvādaśāṅga for Mūla-mantra","lookup_keywords":["ṣaḍaṅga","hṛdaya","kavaca","netra","astra","dvādaśāṅga"],"quick_summary":"Lists the six standard mantric limbs used with bījas and notes a twelve-limbed arrangement for the root-mantra, guiding protective kavaca-style practice."}
Weapon Type: Astra (mantric missile)
Concept: Body as kavaca (armor) through mantra-limbs; śakti is localized via nyāsa to protect and activate faculties (vision, vitality, resolve).
Application: Before japa/homa, perform ṣaḍaṅga-nyāsa to ‘seal’ the practice; use dvādaśāṅga when the mūla-mantra tradition prescribes expanded coverage.
Khanda Section: Mantra-nyasa and Kavaca (Agneya-vidya / Tantra-oriented ritual procedure)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sādhaka touches six loci—heart, head, crown, chest-armor region, eyes, and a projecting ‘astra’ gesture—forming a luminous protective shell; a secondary ring shows twelve points for the mūla-mantra.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: frontal sādhaka with six glowing loci marked, stylized protective aura like a mandala, bold lines and sacred geometry accents","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: gold-leaf kavaca aura around the figure, six loci jeweled, astra depicted as a radiant spear of light from the hand, ornate frame","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clear didactic depiction of six points with labels (hṛdaya, śiras, śikhā, kavaca, netra, astra), plus inset of twelve-point scheme","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: refined figure performing nyāsa gestures, subtle halos at six loci, astra as a thin beam, detailed textiles and margins"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: हृदयञ्च = हृदयम् + च; शिरश्चूडा = शिरः + चूडा; नेत्रमस्त्रकं = नेत्रम् + अस्त्रकम्; ṣaḍaṅgāni is dvigu compound.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 25.12 (explicit dvādaśāṅga placements); Agni Purana 25.10 (japa after nyāsa)
FAQs
It defines the ṣaḍaṅga-nyāsa mapping for bīja-mantras—heart, head, crown, armor, eyes, and astra—and notes that the mūla (root) mantra uses a more elaborate dvādaśāṅga (twelve-part) nyāsa.
Beyond mythic narration, it preserves a practical ritual-technical schema (nyāsa/kavaca/astraka) used in mantra-sādhana, showing the text’s coverage of applied liturgy and protective rites alongside other sciences.
Correct nyāsa is traditionally held to sacralize the practitioner’s body as a mantra-seat, strengthening protection (kavaca) and purification, and supporting focused, disciplined worship that yields merit (puṇya) and spiritual steadiness.