Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 15
Chapter 374 — ध्यान (Dhyāna) — Colophon & Transition to Dhāraṇā
धारयेद्वारुणीं मन्त्रो तुष्ट्यर्थं चाप्यतन्त्रितः वारुणीधारणा प्रोक्ता ऐशानीधारणां शृणु
dhārayedvāruṇīṃ mantro tuṣṭyarthaṃ cāpyatantritaḥ vāruṇīdhāraṇā proktā aiśānīdhāraṇāṃ śṛṇu
মন্ত্রসাধক অচঞ্চলচিত্তে তুষ্টিলাভের জন্য বারুণী-ধারণা ধারণ করবে। বারুণী-ধারণা বলা হল; এখন ঐশানী-ধারণা শোনো।
Lord Agni (narrating Agni Purana teachings to sage Vasiṣṭha, in the standard dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","practical_application":"Directional/elemental dhāraṇā (visualization) as part of pūjā to propitiate the corresponding śakti and stabilize attention before further nyāsa/dhyāna.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Vāruṇī-dhāraṇā and transition to Āiśānī-dhāraṇā","lookup_keywords":["Vāruṇī dhāraṇā","Āiśānī dhāraṇā","diśā-śakti","tantra pūjā","ekāgratā"],"quick_summary":"Perform the Vāruṇī dhāraṇā with undistracted focus for propitiation; having completed it, proceed to the Āiśānī dhāraṇā in the sequence of directional/elemental contemplations."}
Concept: Ekāgratā (undistractedness) and krama (sequenced practice) in dhāraṇā for devatā-tarpaṇa/tuṣṭi.
Application: Use a fixed sequence of dhāraṇās; maintain attention without vikshepa to make visualization effective and to prepare for deeper dhyāna.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Tantra-dhāraṇā (Ritual visualizations and elemental/diśā-śakti dhāraṇās)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A mantra-practitioner seated in steady posture, eyes half-closed, performing a water/Varuṇa-associated visualization (Vāruṇī dhāraṇā), then turning attention toward the Īśāna (northeast) śakti for the next dhāraṇā.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, yogin in padmāsana on a lotus seat, cool blue-green water aura signifying Vāruṇī, subtle Varuṇa motifs (makara, pāśa) in the background, then a luminous northeast corner marked by Īśāna symbolism, flat colors, bold outlines, sacred ambience","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central seated sādhaka with ornate halo, gold-leaf accents on lotus and ritual vessels (kalaśa), shimmering blue water field for Vāruṇī, northeast quadrant highlighted with gold radiance for Āiśānī, rich reds and greens, temple interior setting","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional composition showing sequence: panel 1 Vāruṇī dhāraṇā (water aura, calm face), panel 2 Āiśānī dhāraṇā (northeast light), delicate linework, soft shading, labeled directional markers","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined courtly atelier style, a yogin in a quiet pavilion by a water tank symbolizing Vāruṇī, attendants absent to emphasize undistractedness, then a compositional shift toward the northeast with a pale luminous wash, intricate borders"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shuddha Kalyan","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: धारयेद्वारुणीम् = धारयेत् + वारुणीम्; चाप्यतन्त्रितः = च + अपि + अतन्त्रितः; ऐशानीधारणाम् = ऐशानी + धारणाम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 374 (dhāraṇā-krama sections: Vāruṇī, Āiśānī and related diśā/mahābhūta dhāraṇās)
FAQs
It prescribes a focused (atantrita) practice of Vāruṇī dhāraṇā—an elemental/diśā-śakti visualization linked to Varuṇa—done specifically for tuṣṭi (propitiation), and it transitions to the next practice: Āiśānī dhāraṇā.
By cataloging step-by-step dhāraṇā sequences (Vāruṇī followed by Āiśānī), it demonstrates the Agni Purana’s coverage of practical mantra-sādhana and ritual-technology alongside its many other domains—making it a procedural manual as well as a narrative Purāṇa.
The verse emphasizes disciplined attention in practice and frames dhāraṇā as a means of divine satisfaction (tuṣṭi), implying purification and favorable spiritual outcomes through properly performed, undistracted mantra-based visualization.