Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 8
Brahma-jñāna
Knowledge of Brahman
अहं ब्रह्म परं ज्योतिर्मनोबुद्धिविवर्जितं अहं ब्रह्म परं ज्योतिश्चित्ताहङ्कारवर्जितं
ahaṃ brahma paraṃ jyotirmanobuddhivivarjitaṃ ahaṃ brahma paraṃ jyotiścittāhaṅkāravarjitaṃ
أنا براهْمَن—النور الأسمى—منزَّه عن الذهن (manas) والعقل المميِّز (buddhi). أنا براهْمَن—النور الأسمى—متحرِّر من مادة الذهن (citta) ومن الأنا/إحساس «أنا» (ahaṅkāra).
Lord Agni (teaching Brahmavidya in the Agni Purana’s dialogue tradition)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Direct inquiry into antaḥkaraṇa (mind, intellect, citta, ahaṅkāra) to recognize the Self as prior to mental modifications.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Aham Brahma—Negation of mind, intellect, citta, and ego (antaḥkaraṇa-vyatireka)","lookup_keywords":["mano buddhi vivarjita","citta ahaṅkāra varjita","antaḥkaraṇa","vṛtti-sākṣin","param jyotis"],"quick_summary":"States that Brahman is not the mind or ego; it is the luminous witness of all mental states, enabling freedom from identification with thoughts."}
Alamkara Type: Anaphora; conceptual gradation (mind → intellect → citta → ego)
Concept: Ātman is sākṣī-caitanya, distinct from antaḥkaraṇa; ahaṅkāra is an upādhi, not the Self.
Application: Self-inquiry: identify thoughts as objects; notice the unchanging awareness in which 'I-thought' arises and subsides; rest as that.
Khanda Section: Advaita-Vedanta / Atma-Brahma-Jnana (Non-dual Self-Knowledge)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A meditating figure with layered translucent silhouettes labeled mind, intellect, citta, ego peeling away like veils, revealing a radiant core of pure light.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, concentric veils around the yogin peeling outward; central jyotis bright; stylized lotus-heart; bold outlines and traditional palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, heavy gold aura at center; four ornate but fading layers around the figure representing mano-buddhi-citta-ahaṅkāra; embossed gold highlights on the central light.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore, clean didactic layout: four layers shown as sheaths dissolving; subtle annotations; soft gradients and fine detailing.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, philosophical allegory: veils of calligraphy-like patterns (thoughts) drifting away from the seated sage; luminous center; meticulous detail."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Shankara","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ज्योतिर्मनोबुद्धिविवर्जितम् = ज्योतिः + मनस् + बुद्धि + विवर्जितम् (ज्योतिः+मनस् → ज्योतिर्…); ज्योतिश्चित्ताहङ्कारवर्जितम् = ज्योतिः + चित्त + अहङ्कार + वर्जितम् (ज्योतिः+चित्त → ज्योतिश्चित्त…)
Related Themes: Agni Purana 377 (Brahmavidyā section)
FAQs
Brahmavidya (non-dual Self-knowledge): a contemplative formula for meditation that negates identification with mind (manas), intellect (buddhi), mental field (citta), and ego (ahaṅkāra), affirming the Self as Brahman, the supreme Light.
Alongside ritual, polity, medicine, and arts, the Agni Purana also preserves Vedantic instruction (Brahmavidya). This verse exemplifies its inclusion of philosophical soteriology—practical contemplative teaching aimed at liberation.
By repeatedly contemplating identity with Brahman and disidentifying from ego and mental modifications, one weakens bondage-producing ignorance, leading toward inner purification (antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi) and ultimately liberation (mokṣa).