Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 5
Worship by Limb-Syllables
Aṅgākṣara-arcana
ज्येष्ठाग्रेण क्रमात्तावन् मूर्धन्यष्टाक्षरं न्यसेत् तर्जन्यान्तारमङ्गुष्ठे लग्ने मध्यमया च तत्
jyeṣṭhāgreṇa kramāttāvan mūrdhanyaṣṭākṣaraṃ nyaset tarjanyāntāramaṅguṣṭhe lagne madhyamayā ca tat
随后依次第，当以无名指尖安置（nyāsa）“mūrdhanya”（属头顶/颅部）之八音节真言；并以中指亦当安置于拇指与食指内侧相邻空隙相合之处。
Lord Agni (teaching Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s instructional mode)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Execute specific nyāsa placements for the eight-syllabled mantra using prescribed fingers and contact points (ring-finger tip; middle finger at thumb-index inner junction) to complete limb/hand sealing.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Aṣṭākṣara Nyāsa: Ring-finger Tip and Thumb–Index Inner Junction Placement","lookup_keywords":["nyāsa","aṣṭākṣara","jyeṣṭhāgra","madhyamā","aṅguṣṭha-tarjanī-sandhi"],"quick_summary":"The verse specifies precise finger usage and touch-locations for installing the eight-syllabled mantra—indicating a standardized, repeatable nyāsa technique."}
Concept: Sādhana is operationalized through exact bodily mappings; disciplined gesture (mudrā/nyāsa) stabilizes mind and channels mantra-śakti.
Application: Follow the exact finger-and-contact instructions to avoid procedural drift in lineage practice and to maintain consistent meditative anchoring.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Tantra: Nyasa and Mudra procedures
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A practitioner performs a detailed nyāsa: ring-finger tip touches the designated point for the ‘mūrdhanya’ eight-syllable placement; then the middle finger touches the inner junction where thumb meets the space beside the index finger.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, close-up ritual hands with emphasized ring finger and middle finger actions, stylized mantra letters hovering at touch points, warm earthy palette, bold contours, sacred geometry border","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, hands in foreground with gold-leaf highlights on the exact touch points, ornate frame, subtle Vishnu symbols indicating aṣṭākṣara context, rich lacquered colors","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, stepwise instructional panel: (1) ring-finger tip placement, (2) middle-finger placement at thumb-index inner junction, labeled arrows, delicate lines and soft shading","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined close study of hands performing precise touches, calligraphic annotations near fingers, indoor shrine setting with fine textiles and subdued tones"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"focused","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ज्येष्ठाग्रेण→ज्येष्ठा-अग्रेण; क्रमात्तावन्→क्रमात् तावत्; मूर्धन्यष्टाक्षरं→मूर्धन्य-अष्ट-अक्षरम्; तर्जन्यान्तारमङ्गुष्ठे→तर्जनी-अन्तारम् अङ्गुष्ठे.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Continuation of kara-nyāsa/aṅga-nyāsa steps in the aṅgākṣara-arcana chapter
FAQs
It teaches a precise nyāsa procedure: using specific fingers (ring finger, then middle finger) to place the aṣṭākṣara mantra on the head-region and at a defined thumb–index junction area on the hand.
Beyond mythology, the Agni Purāṇa preserves highly technical ritual mechanics—micro-instructions of mantra-nyāsa and hand-placements—showing its coverage of practical tantra/puja methodology alongside other sciences.
Correct nyāsa is traditionally held to “install” mantra-śakti in the practitioner’s body, purifying and sacralizing the limbs and supporting concentration and efficacy in worship and mantra-japa.