Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 10
Derivation
Uddhāra) of the Sakalādi Mantra (सकलादिमन्त्रोद्धारः
तृतीयं पुरुषं विद्धि दक्षिणं पञ्चमं तथा सप्तमं वामदेवन्तु सद्योजातन्ततःपरं
tṛtīyaṃ puruṣaṃ viddhi dakṣiṇaṃ pañcamaṃ tathā saptamaṃ vāmadevantu sadyojātantataḥparaṃ
当知第三处安置为“Tatpuruṣa”；第五处为“Dakṣiṇa”（Aghora，南方面）；第七处为“Vāmadeva”；其后“Sadyojāta”为下一处安置。
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha, standard Agni Purāṇa frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Pañcabrahma-nyāsa mapping: assigning placements/faces (Tatpuruṣa, Aghora/Dakṣiṇa, Vāmadeva, Sadyojāta) in a sequence for ritual installation on body/maṇḍala/liṅga.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Pañcabrahma-nyāsa krama: Tatpuruṣa (3rd), Dakṣiṇa/Aghora (5th), Vāmadeva (7th), then Sadyojāta","lookup_keywords":["Pañcabrahma","Tatpuruṣa","Aghora","Vāmadeva","Sadyojāta"],"quick_summary":"Defines a specific ordering of pañcabrahma placements used in Śaiva nyāsa: identify the 3rd as Tatpuruṣa, 5th as the southern (Aghora) placement, 7th as Vāmadeva, and then Sadyojāta thereafter—supporting consistent ritual mapping."}
Concept: Śiva’s fivefold manifestation is operationalized through nyāsa: correct krama and direction/placement stabilize the sādhaka’s inner maṇḍala and the external rite.
Application: During nyāsa, touch/visualize the designated points in the stated order while invoking each brahma-aspect; in temple context, align the pañcabrahma faces with shrine directions consistently.
Khanda Section: Shaiva-Mantra-Vidya (Pañcabrahma / Sadyojāta–Vāmadeva–Aghora–Tatpuruṣa–Īśāna Nyāsa)
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A schematic of pañcabrahma-nyāsa: a five-faced Śiva diagram with directional labels; a sādhaka touching body points in sequence marked 3rd/5th/7th; a liṅga with five-face arrangement implied.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural with a central pañcavaktra Śiva, directional color-coding, and a sādhaka performing nyāsa gestures; bold outlines, temple aesthetic, clear north/south markers.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting of pañcavaktra Śiva with gold halo, five faces subtly shown, directional emblems, and a small inset of nyāsa hand-gestures; ornate border and embossed gold work.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore instructional chart: numbered placements (3,5,7) mapped to Tatpuruṣa/Aghora/Vāmadeva, then Sadyojāta; clean calligraphy, arrows, and a simplified five-face icon for clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature of a scholar-priest demonstrating nyāsa before a liṅga, with a painted scroll showing five-faced Śiva and directional annotations; fine lines, subdued palette, architectural depth."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वामदेवन्तु → वामदेवम् + तु; सद्योजातन्ततःपरं → सद्योजातम् + ततः + परम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 316 pañcabrahma/nyāsa continuation (Sadyojāta–Vāmadeva–Aghora–Tatpuruṣa–Īśāna discussions); Agni Purana mantra-nyāsa and liṅga-pūjā procedures in nearby kalpa sections
FAQs
It teaches a nyāsa-style mapping of Śiva’s Pañcabrahma faces (Tatpuruṣa, Dakṣiṇa/Aghora, Vāmadeva, Sadyojāta) to specific numbered placements in a ritual sequence.
Beyond myth, the Agni Purāṇa preserves operational ritual technology—directional assignments, mantra-face correspondences, and ordered placements—typical of temple and tantric manuals embedded within a Purāṇic compendium.
Correctly aligning the Pañcabrahma aspects is held to harmonize the practitioner with Śiva’s cosmic functions (creation, preservation, dissolution, concealment, grace), supporting purification and ritual efficacy.