Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 21
Derivation
Uddhāra) of the Sakalādi Mantra (सकलादिमन्त्रोद्धारः
निष्कलो भुक्तिमुक्तौ स्यात्पञ्चाङ्गो ऽयं सदाशिवः अंशुमान् विश्वरूपञ्च आवृतं शून्यरञ्जितम्
niṣkalo bhuktimuktau syātpañcāṅgo 'yaṃ sadāśivaḥ aṃśumān viśvarūpañca āvṛtaṃ śūnyarañjitam
在无分（niṣkala）的层面中，祂赐予世间受用与解脱二者。此常住吉祥天（Sadāśiva）以五重相而显现；光明炽盛，具宇宙之形，虽被遮覆，却似被“虚空/空性”所染，宛如为虚无所覆。
Lord Agni (narrating Agni Purana’s Shaiva-tattva material to sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Meditative understanding of Sadāśiva’s niṣkala (transcendent) and pañcāṅga (fivefold) modes to align worship/visualization with the intended soteriological goal (bhukti or mukti).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Sadāśiva: Niṣkala and Pañcāṅga (Fivefold) Manifestation","lookup_keywords":["Sadashiva","nishkala","panchanga","vishvarupa","shunya"],"quick_summary":"Defines Sadāśiva as partless (niṣkala) yet fivefold in manifestation, simultaneously granting worldly fruition and liberation; the ‘void-tinge’ indicates appearance under veiling while remaining radiant and all-pervasive."}
Alamkara Type: Virodha (paradox)
Concept: Niṣkala–sakala polarity: the Absolute grants both bhukti and mukti; manifestation is fivefold while essence remains partless; ‘śūnya’ indicates veiling/appearance, not ultimate negation.
Application: Choose worship-mode: niṣkala-dhyāna for liberation-oriented absorption; pañcāṅga/sakala contemplation for ritual completeness while remembering transcendence.
Khanda Section: Shaiva-Tantra / Sadashiva-Tattva (Ishana-kalpa thematic stream)
Primary Rasa: Adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: Shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A cosmic Sadāśiva: radiant, universe-bodied, suggested as fivefold emanation, with a subtle veil of ‘void’ around Him—formless essence hinted behind a luminous cosmic form.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural of Sadāśiva as viśvarūpa, fivefold aura bands, luminous gold-white radiance, subtle dark-blue void halo as āvaraṇa, serene śānta expression, traditional flat perspective, ornate borders","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting of Sadāśiva cosmic form with heavy gold leaf prabhāmaṇḍala, fivefold emanation motifs, gem inlay effect, faint dark backdrop indicating śūnya-āvaraṇa, symmetrical devotional composition","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting emphasizing doctrinal diagram: Sadāśiva center with fivefold rays/emanations labeled, soft shading, clean linework, instructional iconographic chart aesthetic","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature of a luminous cosmic deity filling the frame, delicate cloud-and-void gradients, fine detailing of universal elements within the body, restrained palette with gold highlights, contemplative courtly style"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: syātpañcāṅgo → syāt pañcāṅgaḥ; 'yaṃ = ayam; viśvarūpañca → viśvarūpam ca; śūnyarञ्जितम् → śūnya-rañjitam (compound).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 316 (Shaiva-Tantra / Sadāśiva-tattva stream); Agni Purana sections on pañcabrahma/Śiva-tattva and liṅga-pūjā (general Shaiva material)
FAQs
It conveys Shaiva-tattva vidyā: the distinction of Sadāśiva as niṣkala (attribute-free) who grants both bhukti (worldly fruition) and mukti (liberation), alongside His pañcāṅga (fivefold) mode of manifestation used in tantric-theological mapping of Śiva’s forms.
Beyond mythic narration, it preserves systematic metaphysics—defining divine ontology (niṣkala/sakala), soteriology (bhukti–mukti), and cosmology (viśvarūpa). This illustrates how the Agni Purana functions as a compendium of ritual-theological and philosophical categories.
It frames Sadāśiva as the ultimate refuge: devotion and contemplative alignment with the niṣkala reality is taught as a path that can yield both legitimate worldly results and final release, with ‘void’ imagery emphasizing transcendence beyond ordinary conceptual grasp.