Agni Purāṇa
26 - A description of different positions of fingers in worship
1. (I now) describe the characteristic of (the different) positions of fingers (mudra) (which) bring (the worshipper) nearer (to the object of worship). Añjali (folding of hands) is the first mudra. (The second) is the Vandani (fingers interlocked) to be placed near the heart.
2. With the left fist folded and the thumb erect, the right thumb interwoven with the erect left thumb is said to be (the third one).
3. (These are) the three common formations. The (following are) not common. By the unyoking of the smallest and other fingers eight positions (are formed) in order.
4. The first eight basic syllables are repeated in order. One has to bend the three fingers commencing with the little finger, with the thumb.
5. One has to raise up the hand to the face for the ninth mystic syllable. Then the left hand is raised up and bent half slowly.
6. These are the mudras of the limbs of Varaha1 in order. Then the left fist having been kept closed, the fingers are released one by one.
1. If the two palms are placed together so as to form a cavity it represents the Varaha Mudra.
7. The same position is held by the right hand also and the previous position is bent down. The left fist (is held) with the thumb erect. This results in the accomplishment of the mudrå.
Summary of chapter 26 of the Agni Purāṇa is as follows:
This chapter describes the religious observances to be performed on the day of Saṃkrānti — the sun's passage from one zodiacal sign to the next — with special attention to the Makara Saṃkrānti (sun's entry into Capricorn) as the holiest of all such transitions. The Purāṇa prescribes ritual bathing in sacred rivers or tirtha-s, worship of the Sun god with arghya offerings, performance of tarpaṇa for the ancestors, and charity (dāna) of sesame seeds, blankets, and food. The twelve Saṃkrānti-s of the year are enumerated with their specific virtues and recommended gifts. The chapter affirms that acts of dāna performed on Saṃkrānti carry the merit of a thousand ordinary dāna-s, and bathing in a tīrtha on this day cleanses sins accumulated over many lifetimes.
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