Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 7
Worship by Limb-Syllables
Aṅgākṣara-arcana
एवं रूपानिमान् वर्णान् भावबुद्धान्न्यसेत् क्रमात् हृदास्यनेत्रमूर्धाङ्घ्रितालुगुह्यकरादिषु
evaṃ rūpānimān varṇān bhāvabuddhānnyaset kramāt hṛdāsyanetramūrdhāṅghritāluguhyakarādiṣu
如是依次，应将这些字母——观想其形相，并以专注觉知加以摄持——安置于心、口、眼、顶、足、上腭（tālu）、隐秘处、双手及身体其他部位。
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Varṇa-nyāsa/anga-nyāsa: sequentially installing contemplated letters on specified bodily loci (heart, mouth, eyes, head, feet, palate, genitals, hands, etc.) to consecrate the practitioner’s body as a mantra-maṇḍala.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Varṇa-nyāsa on Hṛd–Āsya–Netra–Mūrdhan–Aṅghri–Tālu–Guhya–Kara","lookup_keywords":["varna-nyasa","anga-nyasa","hridaya","netra","guhya"],"quick_summary":"Install the letters in order on the heart and other loci with focused visualization of their forms; this creates an embodied mantra-map used for protection, concentration, and deity-identification in pūjā."}
Concept: Bhāva-buddhi (intentional cognition) is essential: letters are not merely recited but ‘installed’ as living powers across the body’s sacred geography.
Application: During nyāsa, slow down at each locus, visualize the varṇa’s rūpa and color, and maintain a fixed sequence to avoid ‘nyāsa-bhraṃśa’ (procedural lapse).
Khanda Section: Mantra-nyasa and Tantric Visualization (Varna-nyasa / Anga-nyasa)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A diagrammatic yet devotional scene: the practitioner’s body shown with highlighted loci—heart, mouth, eyes, head, feet, palate, secret place, hands—each receiving a glowing Sanskrit letter-form in sequence.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, frontal standing sādhaka figure with highlighted red-gold loci points, each locus bearing a stylized varṇa glyph, subdued temple interior with oil lamp, emphasis on sacred anatomy mapping.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, central figure with gold halos at each nyāsa point (heart, mouth, eyes, head, feet, palate, guhya, hands), embossed gold for glyphs, rich ornamental border like a ritual manual made iconic.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional plate: clean labeled body-loci, delicate glyphs, sequential arrows indicating ‘kramāt’, soft pastel background, calm scholarly aesthetic.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined anatomical pose (modest, stylized), tiny luminous letters placed on loci, courtly atelier feel, margins with calligraphic notes indicating the order."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: रूपानिमान् = रूपान् इमान्; भावबुद्धान्न्यसेत् = भावबुद्धान् न्यसेत् (न् + न्); हृदास्यनेत्रमूर्धाङ्घ्रितालुगुह्यकरादिषु = हृद्-आस्य-नेत्र-मूर्ध-अङ्घ्रि-तालु-गुह्य-कर-आदिषु (समाहार-समासवत् सूचीसमासः).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 302.6; Agni Purana 302.8; Agni Purana 302.9
FAQs
It teaches varṇa-nyāsa: the sequential installation of mantric letters on specific bodily loci (heart, mouth, eyes, head, feet, palate, guhya, hands, etc.) as part of tantric/ritual practice.
Beyond mythic narration, it preserves practical ritual technology—mantra-visualization and bodily nyāsa—showing the Purana as a manual for applied worship (pūjā-vidhi) and esoteric disciplines.
Nyāsa sacralizes the practitioner’s body as a mantra-bearing vessel, strengthening concentration and purity in worship, and is traditionally held to enhance mantra-siddhi and ritual efficacy.