Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 44
Explanation of the Vāsudeva and Related Mantras (वासुदेवादिमन्त्रनिरूपणम्)
शेषान् हस्ततले न्यस्य शिरस्यथ ललाटके मुखहृन्नाभिगुह्योरुजान्वङ्घ्रौ करणोद्गतौ
śeṣān hastatale nyasya śirasyatha lalāṭake mukhahṛnnābhiguhyorujānvaṅghrau karaṇodgatau
将余下的咒音（音节/部分）安置于掌心，继而安置于头顶与额上——再安置于面部、心间、脐轮、隐秘处、两股、两膝与双足——此即由双手施行、以手为器的“手起安置法”（nyāsa）。
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in ritual procedure)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Kara-nyāsa/anga-nyāsa in pūjā and japa: mapping mantra-aṅgas onto palms and body-loci to sacralize the practitioner and stabilize concentration.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Kara-nyāsa/Anga-nyāsa: Hand-to-body placement sequence","lookup_keywords":["nyasa","kara-nyasa","anga-nyasa","mantra-sadhana","deha-adhyasa"],"quick_summary":"Install the remaining mantra-parts first on the palms, then sequentially on head/forehead and the principal body-centers down to the feet. This ‘hand-originating’ nyāsa uses the hands as the instrument to awaken the mantra in the body."}
Concept: Deha-nyāsa: the body as a mantra-mandala; sanctification through intentional placement (adhiṣṭhāna) of syllabic power.
Application: Use a consistent locus-order (from head to feet) to reduce ritual error and deepen dhyāna during pūjā/japa.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Nyasa / Anga-nyasa and Kara-nyasa in Mantra-sadhana)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sādhaka seated in āsana performs nyāsa: touching palms, then head, forehead, face, heart, navel, genitals, thighs, knees, and feet in a clear ritual sequence.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat vibrant colors, sādhaka in yogic seat before a small altar, hands touching successive body points for nyāsa, minimal background, sacred geometry hints, traditional ornaments and lamp light.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf highlights on altar vessels and halo-like aura around the sādhaka, emphasized hand gestures touching head/heart/navel/feet, rich reds and greens, ornate borders.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, delicate linework, instructional clarity: numbered or subtly indicated body-loci for nyāsa, calm interior shrine setting, soft shading.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, fine detailing of hands and posture, courtly interior turned into a shrine room, precise depiction of sequential touches, subdued palette with intricate textiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: śirasyatha = śirasi + atha. mukhahṛnnābhiguhyorujānvaṅghrau treated as a dvandva listing body-parts; karaṇodgatau = karaṇa + udgatau.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 25 (Nyāsa/Mantra-pūjā context); Agni Purana 24-26 (Pūjā-vidhi sequences, mantra-aṅga placements)
FAQs
It teaches nyāsa—ritually assigning the remaining mantra-parts onto specific body locations (palms through feet) as part of mantra-sādhana and pūjā, using the hands to ‘install’ the mantra in the body.
Beyond mythic narration, it preserves practical liturgical technology (tantric-style kara/anga-nyāsa), showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of detailed worship manuals alongside other sciences.
Nyāsa sacralizes the practitioner’s body as a mantra-vessel, supports concentration and purity in worship, and is traditionally held to enhance the efficacy (siddhi) of japa and ritual offerings.