Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 3
Āsana–Prāṇāyāma–Pratyāhāra
Posture, Breath-control, and Withdrawal of the Senses
उपविश्यासने युञ्ज्याद्योगमात्मविशुद्धये समकायशीरग्रीवं धारयन्नचलं स्थिरः
upaviśyāsane yuñjyādyogamātmaviśuddhaye samakāyaśīragrīvaṃ dhārayannacalaṃ sthiraḥ
جالسًا على مقعدٍ لائق، ينبغي أن يُمارَس اليوغا لتطهير الذات، مع إبقاء الجسد والرأس والعنق مصطفّةً ومتوازنة—بلا حركةٍ وبثبات.
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s didactic dialogue)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Yoga-vidya","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Postural alignment (body–head–neck in one line) and immobility to support meditation and inner purification.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Samakāya-śiro-grīva: aligned posture for yoga-sādhana","lookup_keywords":["samakāya","śirogrīva","acala","sthira","ātma-viśuddhi"],"quick_summary":"Sit on a proper seat and practice yoga for self-purification, keeping torso, head, and neck aligned and steady. Physical stillness is presented as a direct aid to mental steadiness."}
Concept: Ātma-viśuddhi through yoga begins with sthira-āsana and bodily alignment, enabling dhāraṇā/dhyāna.
Application: Keep chin neutral, neck long, spine upright without rigidity; reduce micro-movements; use gentle effort (not strain) to sustain steadiness for the session.
Khanda Section: Yoga-vidya (Dhyana and Asana discipline)
Primary Rasa: Śānta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A yogin sits upright, spine straight, head and neck aligned, hands resting, body motionless—an image of disciplined stillness for inner purification.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, frontal yogin seated in meditation, strong symmetrical alignment, stylized musculature, subdued background, calm śānta expression, traditional jewelry minimal or absent","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, centered symmetrical composition, yogin with gold halo, perfectly aligned posture, ornate frame, minimal props, emphasis on stillness and purity","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, diagram-like clarity of alignment (torso-head-neck in one line), soft colors, clean background, instructional focus on posture correctness","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, side profile showing straight spine and aligned neck, detailed mat and cushion, quiet interior with subtle light, emphasis on poise"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankara","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: upaviśyāsane = upaviśya + āsane; yuñjyādyogam = yuñjyāt + yogam; yogamātmaviśuddhaye = yogam + ātma-viśuddhaye; dhārayannacalaṃ = dhārayan + acalam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 372.1–2 (seat and preparation); Agni Purana 372.4 (gaze and bodily restraint)
FAQs
It teaches the technical foundation of seated meditation: sit on a proper seat and maintain straight, aligned body–head–neck posture, remaining motionless and steady to begin yoga practice.
Alongside ritual, polity, medicine, and arts, the Agni Purana also preserves practical yoga-method instructions—here, a precise meditative posture rule—showing its coverage of multiple knowledge-systems (vidyās).
The posture is framed as a means to ātma-viśuddhi (inner purification): steadiness and alignment support concentration, reduce distraction, and aid the purifying effects of yogic practice.