Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 25
Chapter 371 — Yama-Niyama and Praṇava-Upāsanā (Oṅkāra) as Brahma-vidyā
ओङ्कारो विदितो येन स मुनिर्नेतरो मुनिः चतुर्थी मात्रा गान्धारी प्रयुक्ता मूर्ध्निलक्ष्यते
oṅkāro vidito yena sa munirnetaro muniḥ caturthī mātrā gāndhārī prayuktā mūrdhnilakṣyate
إنما يكون الحكيم الزاهد (الموني) حقًّا من أدرك مقطع Oṃ (أونكارا) إدراكًا صحيحًا؛ وأما غيره فليس بموني على الحقيقة. والماترا الرابعة، وتُسمّى غاندھاري (Gāndhārī)، إذا استُعملت على وجهها تُعرَف بعلامتها عند قمة الرأس (mūrdhan)، أي كرنينٍ علويّ/قِحفيّ.
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the Agni Purana’s common narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Apply advanced phonetic/prosodic knowledge of Oṃ, including recognition/placement of the 'fourth matra' (Gandhari) as a cranial resonance marker, for correct chanting and musical/recitational delivery.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Omkara-jnana and the Fourth Matra (Gandhari) at Murdhan","lookup_keywords":["omkara-jnana","chaturthi-matra","gandhari","murdhan","shiksha"],"quick_summary":"True muni-hood is tied to correct understanding of Oṃ. The verse notes a technical phonetic feature: a fourth matra called Gāndhārī, identified by its application and perceptible mark at the crown (mūrdhan), i.e., an upper resonance."}
Concept: Right knowledge of sacred sound (Oṃ) is a criterion of realized scholarship; subtle phonetic measures matter in sadhana.
Application: During Oṃ chanting, sustain the closing resonance so it is felt/placed upward (mūrdhan focus), refining articulation under a competent teacher of śikṣā/udgītha traditions.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Svarashastra / Phonetics and Prosody)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A guru teaches a student to chant Oṃ with attention rising to the crown; a subtle wave/halo at the top of the head indicates the 'Gandhari' fourth matra resonance.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, guru-shishya seated, stylized sound-wave rising to crown chakra region, labeled mūrdhan, earthy tones, temple-school ambience, emphasis on sacred phonetics","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, student chanting before guru, gold halo concentrated at crown, Oṃ motif in gold, ornate border, didactic devotional feel","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear instructional diagram overlay: head profile with crown point marked mūrdhan, sound curve showing A-U-M and extended fourth resonance (Gandhari), neat scholarly presentation","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate lesson scene in a study, teacher indicating the top of the head, delicate painted sound-scroll rising upward, refined palette and linework"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: munir netaraḥ = muniḥ na itaraḥ (na + itaraḥ → netaraḥ); mūrdhnilakṣyate = mūrdhni lakṣyate.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Sahitya-shastra/phonetics and prosody materials (same khanda); Agni Purana: Mantra-shastra on pranava-japa and svara (related sections)
FAQs
It teaches a phonetic–mantric criterion: true understanding of Oṁ, and the applied use of a ‘fourth mātrā’ (Gāndhārī) whose correct execution is identified by a mūrdhanya (cerebral/crown) resonance.
Beyond mythology, it preserves technical sound-doctrine—matrā (timing units), named vocal modes (Gāndhārī), and articulatory markers (mūrdhan)—showing the Purana’s coverage of phonetics and disciplined recitation alongside ritual and dharma.
By linking sagehood to correct knowledge and performance of Oṁ, it implies that precise mantra-understanding and properly placed resonance purify speech and mind, making recitation spiritually efficacious rather than merely verbal.