Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 29
Chapter 378: Brahma-jñāna
Knowledge of Brahman
हिरण्यगर्भादिषु च ज्ञानकर्मात्मिका द्विधा त्रिविधा भावना प्रोक्ता विश्वं ब्रह्म उपास्यते
hiraṇyagarbhādiṣu ca jñānakarmātmikā dvidhā trividhā bhāvanā proktā viśvaṃ brahma upāsyate
হিৰণ্যগৰ্ভ আদি বিষয়ে ভাবনা জ্ঞানাত্মিকা আৰু কৰ্মাত্মিকা—এই দ্বিবিধ, আৰু ত্ৰিবিধ বুলিও কোৱা হৈছে; ইয়াৰ দ্বাৰা বিশ্বৰূপ ব্ৰহ্মৰ উপাসনা কৰা হয়।
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Use graded contemplations—knowledge-based and action-based (and a threefold scheme)—to worship Brahman as the universe, integrating upasana with worldview.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Dvi-vidhā and Tri-vidhā Bhāvanā in Brahma-upāsanā (Hiraṇyagarbha context)","lookup_keywords":["Hiranyagarbha","jnana-bhavana","karma-bhavana","trividha bhavana","vishvam brahma upasya"],"quick_summary":"Contemplation is taught in two modes (knowledge/action) and also in a threefold arrangement, applied to Hiraṇyagarbha and cosmic principles. The practical aim is viśva-rūpa upāsanā—seeing and worshipping the universe as Brahman."}
Concept: Upāsanā-krama: bhāvanā can be knowledge-centered or action-centered, and also arranged as a threefold discipline, culminating in viśva-brahma-darśana.
Application: Daily practice: (1) karma-bhāvanā—offer actions as īśvara-arpaṇa; (2) jñāna-bhāvanā—contemplate witness-consciousness; (3) expand to viśva-upāsanā—perceive all forms as Brahman’s appearance.
Khanda Section: Jnana-Yoga and Upasana (Brahma-upasana / Puranic Vedanta-themed instruction)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Hiraṇyagarbha as a golden cosmic embryo above a mandala of the universe; two and three streams of contemplation shown as distinct paths—one of ritual/action offerings, one of luminous knowledge, converging into worship of the cosmos as Brahman.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Hiraṇyagarbha as golden orb-lotus, surrounding cosmic mandala with devas and elements, two/three flowing bands of color representing bhāvanā modes, stylized waves and lotuses, sacred geometry","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central golden Hiraṇyagarbha with heavy gold embossing, devotees offering lamps (karma) on one side and sages in meditation (jnana) on the other, both facing a viśva-mandala, ornate arch and border","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, didactic composition with clear separation of twofold and threefold practice panels, fine linework, soft gradients, labels implied by iconographic cues (offerings vs meditation), calm instructional mood","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, cosmological diagram rendered as courtly painting, golden orb above, scholars and ritualists in separate groups, converging gaze toward a painted universe-map, intricate detailing and balanced symmetry"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: हिरण्यगर्भादिषु = हिरण्यगर्भ + आदि + षु; ज्ञानकर्मात्मिका is a tatpuruṣa compound qualifying भावना.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 378.30 (Brahman definition); Agni Purana 378.31 (saguṇa-to-nirguṇa meditation progression)
FAQs
It teaches upāsanā through bhāvanā (structured contemplation): meditating on cosmic principles like Hiraṇyagarbha using both jñāna-oriented (insight) and karma-oriented (discipline/ritual-action) modes, and also through a threefold contemplative scheme.
Alongside ritual and practical sciences, the Agni Purana preserves systematic spiritual technologies—classifying meditation (bhāvanā) by method (jñāna/karma) and by a threefold model—showing it as a compendium that includes Vedānta-style contemplative practice.
By worshipping/meditating on Brahman as identical with the universe (viśvaṃ brahma), the practitioner integrates action and knowledge, purifying karma and stabilizing non-dual insight through sustained contemplation (bhāvanā).