Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 8
Chapter 374 — ध्यान (Dhyāna) — Colophon & Transition to Dhāraṇā
नाडीभिर्विकटं दिव्यं शूलाग्रं वेधयेच्छुभम् पादाङ्गुष्ठात् कपालान्तं रश्मिमण्डलमावृतं
nāḍībhirvikaṭaṃ divyaṃ śūlāgraṃ vedhayecchubham pādāṅguṣṭhāt kapālāntaṃ raśmimaṇḍalamāvṛtaṃ
নাড়ীর দ্বারা শুভ, দিব্য ও বিকট ‘শূলাগ্র’ ভেদ (অর্থাৎ মানসিকভাবে অতিক্রম) করতে হবে; পায়ের বৃদ্ধাঙ্গুলি থেকে করোটির শীর্ষ পর্যন্ত তাকে রশ্মিমণ্ডলে আবৃত বলে ধ্যান করতে হবে।
Lord Agni (in the Agni Purana’s primary narration to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Yoga","practical_application":"Subtle-body visualization: traverse nāḍīs from toe to crown, enclosing the axis in a radiant sphere; used for prāṇa-udgama, purification, and meditative stabilization.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Nāḍī-traversal and raśmi-maṇḍala enclosure (pādāṅguṣṭha to kapāla)","lookup_keywords":["nāḍī","raśmi-maṇḍala","pādāṅguṣṭha","kapāla","śūlāgra-vedhana"],"quick_summary":"Contemplate a forceful upward ‘piercing’ through the nāḍīs—like reaching a spear-tip—while visualizing the body-axis from toe to crown enclosed in a radiant orb; it is a technique for energizing and refining inner channels."}
Weapon Type: Spear (śūla) as visualization metaphor
Concept: The body is a nāḍī-network; visualization can ‘pierce’ obstructions and establish a luminous protective/energizing field (raśmi-maṇḍala) along the central ascent.
Application: During meditation, track sensation from big toe upward to crown; imagine a continuous luminous sheath around the path, maintaining steadiness rather than force, using the ‘spear-tip’ image to sharpen attention.
Khanda Section: Yoga–Tantra (Nāḍī, Raśmi-maṇḍala, Śūlāgra-vedhana visualization)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A translucent yogic body diagram: a luminous channel from big toe to crown, surrounded by a spherical halo of rays; at the top, a stylized spear-tip symbol indicating the ‘śūlāgra’ focus.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: iconic yogin silhouette with bright central ray, circular raśmi-maṇḍala around the body, spear-tip emblem above the crown, bold flat colors and sacred geometry motifs.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: gold-leaf raśmi-maṇḍala encircling the figure, jeweled highlights along the toe-to-crown axis, spear-tip motif rendered in embossed gold, ornate border like a yantra frame.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: technical visualization plate—clear toe-to-crown pathway, labeled points, soft luminous wash for raśmi sphere, spear-tip icon at top; precise, didactic composition.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: refined figure with translucent aura, delicate rays forming a sphere, spear-tip symbol near the crown, architectural margin with geometric patterns; fine brushwork and subtle shading."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Shuddha Sarang","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: नाडीभिर्विकटं → नाडीभिः + विकटम्; वेधयेच्छुभम् → वेधयेत् + शुभम्; रश्मिमण्डलमावृतं → रश्मिमण्डलम् + आवृतम्
Related Themes: Agni Purana Yoga–Tantra passages on nāḍī, prāṇa-gati, and dhyāna visualizations (same khanda context)
FAQs
It teaches a subtle-body visualization: mentally ‘piercing/traversing’ the inner pathway through the nāḍīs, focusing sharply (śūlāgra) and contemplating a radiant field (raśmi-maṇḍala) extending from the great toe to the crown.
Beyond myth and ritual, it preserves technical yogic-tantric instruction on nāḍīs and inner radiance—showing the text’s wide coverage of practical meditative methods alongside other sciences and disciplines.
The practice aims at purification and concentration by aligning awareness along the subtle channels and establishing a luminous, protective contemplation, supporting inner clarity and spiritual uplift.