Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 28
Chapter 373 — ध्यानम्
Dhyāna / Meditation
नालेनाष्टदलं पद्मं द्वादशाङ्गुलविस्तृतं सत्त्वोपाधिसमायुक्तः सदा ध्येयश् च केशव इति ख लब्धदीपशिखाकृतिमिति ख , ञ च सकर्णिके केसराले सूर्यसोमाग्निमण्डलं
nālenāṣṭadalaṃ padmaṃ dvādaśāṅgulavistṛtaṃ sattvopādhisamāyuktaḥ sadā dhyeyaś ca keśava iti kha labdhadīpaśikhākṛtimiti kha , ña ca sakarṇike kesarāle sūryasomāgnimaṇḍalaṃ
Man soll, samt Stiel, einen achtblättrigen Lotos von zwölf Fingerbreiten Ausdehnung vergegenwärtigen. Keśava—verbunden mit der sattva-Bedingtheit (sattva-upādhi)—ist stets zu meditieren. (Einige Rezensionen fügen hinzu: „von der Gestalt einer Lampenflamme“.) Im Lotos, vollständig mit Fruchtknoten und Fäden, vergegenwärtige man auch die Mandalas von Sonne, Mond und Feuer.
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Mandala-and-lotus visualization practice: constructing an inner eight-petalled lotus with measured proportions and installing Keśava with associated mandalas (sun, moon, fire) for sustained dhyāna.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Aṣṭadala-padma-dhyāna with sūrya-soma-agni-maṇḍalas (Keśava as sattva-upādhi)","lookup_keywords":["aṣṭadala padma","nāla stalk","dvādaśāṅgula","Keśava dhyāna","sūrya soma agni maṇḍala"],"quick_summary":"Visualize an eight-petalled lotus with stalk, twelve finger-breadths wide; meditate on Keśava (sattva-associated), and within the pericarp/filaments place the sun, moon, and fire mandalas (some recensions add a lamp-flame form)."}
Alamkara Type: Rūpaka (implicit identification of inner space as lotus-mandala)
Concept: Sattva-oriented upāsanā: Keśava as the sattva-upādhi focus, integrating solar-lunar-fire principles into a single inner mandalic field.
Application: Use measured inner imagery (petals, pericarp, mandalas) to keep attention structured; contemplate balancing of cooling (soma), heating (agni), and illuminating (sūrya) principles as a meditative integration.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Yoga-Dhyana (Tantric visualization of the lotus and mandalas)
Primary Rasa: Adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: Śānta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"An inner mandala: an eight-petalled lotus with stalk, precisely measured, with Keśava at the center; within the pericarp and filaments appear three circular mandalas—sun, moon, and fire—optionally as a lamp-flame glow.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, large stylized aṣṭadala lotus with visible karṇikā and kesara, central Keśava icon, three mandalas (sun red-gold, moon white, fire orange) nested in the core, flat yet vibrant temple palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central Keśava on lotus, heavy gold leaf on petals and aureoles, three embossed circular mandalas in the lotus core, jewel-toned background, optional flame motif rendered in gold.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, precise geometric lotus diagram with soft shading, clear depiction of stalk and 12-aṅgula proportion cue, labeled-like clarity without text, central Keśava and three mandalas neatly placed.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, botanical realism in lotus petals and filaments, central deity rendered delicately, three luminous discs (sun, moon, fire) in the pericarp, refined color gradations and fine detailing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: नालेनाष्टदलं = नालेन अष्ट-दलम्; द्वादशाङ्गुलविस्तृतं = द्वादश-अङ्गुल-विस्तृतम्; सत्त्वोपाधिसमायुक्तः = सत्त्व-उपाधि-समायुक्तः; ध्येयश् च = ध्येयः च; पद्मस्थमीश्वरं (पूर्वश्लोके) इव; पाठे ‘इति ख …’ ‘ञ’ इत्यादि हस्तलिपि-चिह्नानि/पाठभेद-सूचकाः
Related Themes: Agni Purana 373.24; Agni Purana 373.25; Agni Purana 373.27
FAQs
It teaches a dhyāna-vidhi: constructing a precise inner visualization of an eight-petalled lotus (with measured extent) and installing Keśava there, along with the Sun–Moon–Fire mandalas in the lotus center.
It exemplifies the Purāṇa’s practical ritual-technology—measurement (aṅgula), iconographic/mandalic visualization, and deity-meditation—alongside its broader coverage of many sciences and arts.
Constant meditation on Keśava in a purified sattva-oriented inner seat is presented as a means to steady the mind, purify inner impressions, and align the practitioner with divine luminosity (often symbolized by the lamp-flame).