Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 38
Chapter 369 — शरीरावयवाः
The Limbs/Organs and Constituents of the Body
गर्भस्य च चतस्रः स्युः शिराणाञ्च शरीरिणां त्रिंशच्छतसहस्राणि तथान्यानि नवैव तु
garbhasya ca catasraḥ syuḥ śirāṇāñca śarīriṇāṃ triṃśacchatasahasrāṇi tathānyāni navaiva tu
গর্ভে চারটি প্রধান শিরা বলা হয়েছে। দেহধারীদের মধ্যে শিরার সংখ্যা তিন লক্ষ; এবং এর সঙ্গে আরও নয়টি শিরাও আছে।
Lord Agni (narrating Purāṇic-encyclopedic knowledge)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Anatomical enumeration of śirā/srotas for śārīra-jñāna used in diagnosis, śalya/śalya-sadṛśa procedures, and understanding systemic spread of doṣa and rasa.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Śirā-saṅkhyā (Embryo vs. embodied beings)","lookup_keywords":["śirā","srotas","garbha","saṅkhyā","śārīra"],"quick_summary":"States a small set of principal channels in the embryo and a vastly larger count in the fully embodied state, emphasizing progressive differentiation of bodily conduits."}
Dosha: Tridosha
Concept: Embryonic simplicity differentiates into complex embodied structure; the body is a network of conduits supporting life-processes.
Application: Adopt a systems view in health: protect channels through proper āhāra-vihāra to prevent cascading dysfunction.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda / Sharira-rachana (Anatomy and physiology)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: jijnasa
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A schematic visualization of an embryo with four main channels, contrasted with an adult figure filled with innumerable branching nāḍī/śirā lines like a dense network map.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, two-panel composition: left a glowing embryo in womb outline with four luminous channels; right a standing human figure with fine red-gold channel lines radiating throughout, flat colors, bold outlines, traditional ornamentation.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central standing human with gold-leaf halo and intricate channel lattice in red; inset medallion showing embryo with four main channels; rich jewel tones, embossed gold detailing.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, instructional anatomical chart aesthetic: clean human silhouette with labeled channel branches; separate small vignette of embryo with four primary conduits; delicate linework and soft shading.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, physician-sage presenting a folio showing embryo and adult channel diagrams; fine brushwork, patterned textiles, subtle shading, scientific-courtly atmosphere."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: शिराणाञ्च = शिराणाम् + च; त्रिंशच्छतसहस्राणि = त्रिंशत् + शत + सहस्राणि (त्+श→च्छ); तथान्यानि = तथा + अन्यानि; नवैव = नव + एव.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 369 (Śārīra/Anatomy measures and counts); Agni Purana sections on srotas/dhātu-pariṇāma (within Ayurveda khanda)
FAQs
Ayurvedic śārīra-vidyā: a numerical mapping of śirā (bodily channels/veins), distinguishing a small set in the embryo from a vast network in the fully embodied body.
It preserves technical anatomical enumeration (śirā-saṅkhyā) alongside other disciplines, showing the Agni Purana’s inclusion of medical-physiological knowledge in addition to ritual and dharma topics.
By framing the body as an ordered, countable system, it supports disciplined self-care and purity (śauca) as a basis for dharma and sādhana, implying that correct knowledge of the body aids right living and practice.