Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 7
Āsana–Prāṇāyāma–Pratyāhāra
Posture, Breath-control, and Withdrawal of the Senses
नासिकापुटमङ्गुल्या पीड्यैव च परेण च आदरं रेचयेद्वायुं रेचनाद्रेचकः स्मृतः
nāsikāpuṭamaṅgulyā pīḍyaiva ca pareṇa ca ādaraṃ recayedvāyuṃ recanādrecakaḥ smṛtaḥ
بعد ضغط إحدى فتحتي الأنف بالإصبع والزفير من الأخرى، ينبغي إخراج النفس بعناية؛ ولأنه قائم على الإخراج سُمّي ريتشَكا (recaka)، أي الزفير.
Lord Agni (in discourse to the sage Vasiṣṭha, as typical of the Agni Purāṇa frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Ayurveda","practical_application":"Technique of recaka: alternate-nostril control by pressing one nostril and carefully exhaling through the other.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Recaka—controlled exhalation with nostril regulation","lookup_keywords":["recaka","nāḍī-śodhana","nāsikā-puṭa","aṅgulī","exhalation"],"quick_summary":"Recaka is defined as careful expulsion of breath, performed by closing one nostril with a finger and exhaling through the other."}
Dosha: Vata
Concept: Breath becomes an object of disciplined action; naming (recaka) follows function (recanā/expulsion).
Application: Train exhalation length and smoothness while maintaining finger control and attention; cultivate non-jerky, silent outflow.
Khanda Section: Yoga-Pranayama (Ayurveda / Hatha-yoga techniques within encyclopedic instruction)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A yogin seated, one hand raised to the nose, finger pressing one nostril while exhaling through the other—depicting recaka as careful breath expulsion.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, frontal seated yogin, clear hand-to-nose gesture, stylized airflow line exiting one nostril, earthy pigments, temple wall aesthetic","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, ornate border with gold leaf, yogin with highlighted hand gesture at nostril, subtle gold breath stream motif, calm sacred setting","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional clarity: close-up emphasis on finger placement on nostril, soft colors, minimal background, annotated feel without text","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, fine finger articulation, delicate breath line, yogin on patterned rug, intimate indoor scene with precise detailing"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: रेचयेत्+वायुम् → रेचयेद्वायुं; रेचनात्+रेचकः → रेचनाद्रेचकः (त्→द्);
Related Themes: Agni Purana 372.6 (definition of prāṇāyāma); Agni Purana 372.8 (pūraka); Agni Purana 372.9 (kumbhaka)
FAQs
It defines the prāṇāyāma limb called recaka: controlled exhalation performed by closing one nostril with a finger and expelling the breath attentively through the other.
Alongside rituals, cosmology, and governance, the Agni Purāṇa also preserves practical yogic/physiological instruction—here, a precise operational definition of a breath-technique used in yoga and health disciplines.
Recaka, practiced with care, is traditionally treated as a purifying discipline that steadies prāṇa and mind, supporting inner cleanliness (śuddhi) and readiness for mantra, meditation, and worship.