Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 31
Explanation of the Vāsudeva and Related Mantras (वासुदेवादिमन्त्रनिरूपणम्)
नाभौ गुह्ये च पादे च अष्टव्यूहः पुमान् स्मृतः वीजो बुद्धिरहङ्कारो मनः शब्दो गुणोनिलः
nābhau guhye ca pāde ca aṣṭavyūhaḥ pumān smṛtaḥ vījo buddhirahaṅkāro manaḥ śabdo guṇonilaḥ
Im Nabel, in der Geschlechtsregion und in den Füßen wird der Puruṣa als der „achtfache Vyūha“ gelehrt: bīja (Same), buddhi (Intellekt), ahaṅkāra (Ich-Sinn), manas (Geist), śabda (Klang), guṇa (Eigenschaft/Bestandteil) und anila (Wind/Atem).
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Cosmology","practical_application":"Use the eightfold vyūha list as a meditative inventory of inner constituents, aligning bodily loci (navel, genital region, feet) with tattva-emergence for visualization and self-analysis.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Aṣṭa-vyūha of Puruṣa (Bīja to Anila)","lookup_keywords":["aṣṭa-vyūha","puruṣa","buddhi","ahaṅkāra","tanmātra","anila"],"quick_summary":"The Person is taught as an eightfold configuration installed at specific loci (navel, genital region, feet), enumerating bīja, buddhi, ahaṅkāra, manas, śabda, guṇa, and anila (as given). It supports tattva-based contemplation and ritual body-mapping."}
Dosha: Vata
Concept: Puruṣa is contemplated through a structured set of inner principles (buddhi, ahaṅkāra, manas, etc.), linking metaphysics to embodied loci.
Application: In meditation, scan loci (nābhi → guhya → pāda) and mentally recite the list to cultivate discrimination between witness (puruṣa) and instruments (antaḥkaraṇa/tanmātra/prāṇa).
Khanda Section: Sankhya–Yoga / Tattva-Vyuhas (Cosmology and inner constituents)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A subtle-body schematic: a human figure with highlighted navel, genital region, and feet, each associated with an eightfold list (bīja, buddhi, ahaṅkāra, manas, śabda, guṇa, anila) shown as luminous labels or symbols.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, standing figure with three glowing loci (nābhi, guhya, pāda), surrounding lotus-petals bearing tattva names, earthy pigments, sacred-diagram aesthetic","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, stylized figure with gold-highlighted loci and ornate lotus medallions containing Sanskrit labels for bīja/buddhi/ahaṅkāra/manas/śabda/guṇa/anila, rich gold embossing","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean didactic illustration: figure outline, arrows to loci, neatly written tattva list in Devanagari, soft colors, emphasis on legibility","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholar-sage explaining a diagram to a disciple, manuscript-like chart of the body with labeled loci and tattvas, fine brushwork and margins"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: बुद्धिरहङ्कारो = बुद्धिः + अहङ्कारः; गुणोनिलः = गुणः + अनिलः (visarga sandhi: o).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 25.29 (mind and sensory objects as yajña-forms); Agni Purana 25.32 (finger-wise placement of aspects); Agni Purana 25.33 (tenfold deity-form placement)
FAQs
It teaches a technical tattva-schema: the Puruṣa is described through an ‘eightfold vyūha’ linking bodily loci (navel, genitals, feet) with inner faculties and subtle principles such as buddhi, ahaṅkāra, manas, śabda, guṇa, and prāṇa/vāyu.
By cataloging metaphysical categories (tattvas) and correlating them with embodied locations, it preserves Sankhya–Yoga style doctrinal material alongside Purāṇic teaching—showing the text’s broad scope beyond narrative into systematic philosophy and subtle physiology.
Contemplating these constituents as functions of Puruṣa supports discernment (viveka) between the Self and its instruments (mind, ego, breath), aiding inner purification and steadiness in meditation-oriented practice.