Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 29
Explanation of the Vāsudeva and Related Mantras (वासुदेवादिमन्त्रनिरूपणम्)
अतिरात्राप्तोर्यामञ्च यज्ञात्मा सप्तरूपकः धीरहं मनः शब्दश् च स्पर्शरूपरसास्ततः
atirātrāptoryāmañca yajñātmā saptarūpakaḥ dhīrahaṃ manaḥ śabdaś ca sparśarūparasāstataḥ
Das Opfer (yajña), dessen Wesen der Yajña-Puruṣa ist, hat sieben Gestalten: die Riten Atirātra und Āptoryāma; ferner den standhaften Geist, den Klang und danach Berührung, Gestalt und Geschmack.
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, as the standard Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Cosmology","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Map yajña as a microcosm of the person and sensory-cognitive field, supporting ritual contemplation and internalization of sacrifice during recitation and homa.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Saptarūpaka Yajña (Sevenfold Form of Sacrifice)","lookup_keywords":["yajña-puruṣa","saptarūpa","atirātra","āptoryāma","tanmātra"],"quick_summary":"The yajña is taught as sevenfold: two Soma-rites (Atirātra, Āptoryāma) and five inner constituents (mind and the sensory objects). This supports seeing ritual as both external rite and internal psycho-sensory offering."}
Concept: Yajña as identity of macro-rite and microcosmic inner faculties (mind and sensory fields), centered on Yajña-Puruṣa.
Application: During yajña or japa, treat sensory inputs and mental steadiness as offerings, restraining distraction and aligning perception with sacred order.
Khanda Section: Agneya-vidya (Vedic Ritual Cosmology and Yajña-Doctrine)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual arena where the Yajña-Puruṣa is visualized as encompassing Soma rites and the inner senses—mind, sound, touch, form, taste—shown as subtle emanations around the altar.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, yajña-śālā with sacred fire, Yajña-Puruṣa as radiant cosmic figure, seven labeled emanations (Atirātra, Āptoryāma, manas, śabda, sparśa, rūpa, rasa), earthy reds and greens, temple mural composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central Yajña-Puruṣa with gold halo and ornate arch, small vignettes of Soma-rite symbols and five sensory icons, rich gold work, deep maroon background, devotional yet diagrammatic","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean instructional layout: altar at center, sevenfold list arranged symmetrically with Sanskrit labels, soft pastel palette, fine linework, emphasis on clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly ritual scene with priests and Soma vessels, subtle allegorical clouds showing mind and senses as personified figures, detailed textiles, fine borders, balanced composition"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अतिरात्राप्तोर्यामञ्च = अतिरात्र + आप्तोर्याम् + च; शब्दश् च = शब्दः + च; स्पर्शरूपरसास्ततः = स्पर्श + रूप + रसाः + ततः (visarga/sandhi and vowel coalescence).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 25.30-25.33 (nyāsa mapping of tattvas); Agni Purana sections on yajña-vidhi and Soma-yāga summaries
FAQs
It enumerates a sevenfold classification of yajña, explicitly naming advanced Soma-sacrifices (Atirātra, Āptoryāma) and extending the yajña-principle to inner faculties and sense-objects (mind, sound, touch, form, taste), a doctrinal mapping used in ritual-cosmology.
It blends Śrauta ritual taxonomy (named Soma rites) with a philosophical catalogue of cognition and sense-data (manas and tanmātra/viṣaya-style items), showing how the text interlocks ritual practice with metaphysical frameworks.
By presenting yajña as both external rite and internal discipline (steady mind and sensory regulation), the verse implies that purification and merit arise not only from performance of Soma rituals but also from inward control aligned with the sacrificial principle.