Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 26
Adhyāya 375 — समाधिः
Samādhi
बुद्धेरुत्पत्तिरव्यक्ता ततो ऽहङ्कारसम्भवः तस्मात् खादीनि जायन्ते एकोत्तरगुणानि तु
buddherutpattiravyaktā tato 'haṅkārasambhavaḥ tasmāt khādīni jāyante ekottaraguṇāni tu
From the Unmanifest (Avyakta) arises intellect (buddhi); from that, egoity (ahaṅkāra) is produced. From that (ahaṅkāra) are born space (ākāśa) and the rest of the elements, each possessing qualities increasing by one in succession.
Lord Agni (narrating the doctrine to sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Cosmology","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Framework for understanding creation as a stepwise evolution from avyakta to buddhi to ahaṅkāra to elements; used for tattva-viveka and reverse-order dissolution meditation.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Tattva-Sṛṣṭi Sequence: Avyakta → Buddhi → Ahaṅkāra → Mahābhūtas with Increasing Guṇas","lookup_keywords":["tattva-sṛṣṭi","buddhi-utpatti","ahaṅkāra-sambhava","ākāśa-ādi","eko-uttara-guṇa"],"quick_summary":"Explains the causal chain of manifestation and the rule that each successive element carries one additional quality, supporting systematic cosmological and psychological analysis."}
Concept: Manifestation proceeds from subtle to gross in ordered stages; qualities (sound→touch→form→taste→smell) accumulate across elements.
Application: Reverse contemplation (pratiprasava): withdraw attention from gross sensory objects to subtler qualities, then to ego-function, intellect, and the unmanifest.
Khanda Section: Sankhya–Cosmology (Tattva-srishti / Puranic metaphysics)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A stepwise cosmology chart: Avyakta giving rise to Buddhi, then Ahaṅkāra, then the elements from space onward, annotated with increasing qualities.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: cosmic lotus diagram with tiers labeled avyakta, buddhi, ahaṅkāra, then five elemental circles, each tier connected by flowing lines, traditional colors and bold contours","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: ornate vertical genealogy of tattvas with gold-embossed connectors, central deity-symbol at top as avyakta source, jeweled elemental emblems below, rich gold work","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clean pedagogical illustration—stacked boxes or lotus-petals showing avyakta→buddhi→ahaṅkāra→ākāśa etc., fine linework, soft washes, clear labels","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: philosopher presenting a cosmological scroll with branching diagram, detailed studio setting, subtle gold and lapis accents, precise calligraphy"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: बुद्धेरुत्पत्तिरव्यक्ता = बुद्धेः उत्पत्तिः अव्यक्ता; ततोऽहङ्कारसम्भवः = ततः अहङ्कारसम्भवः; एकोत्तरगुणानि = एक-उत्तर-गुणानि.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 375.27 (qualities and dissolution into substrates); Agni Purana 375.24 (organs and elements as constituents)
FAQs
It imparts Sāṅkhya-style tattva-vidyā: the causal chain Avyakta → buddhi → ahaṅkāra → the elements (space onward), along with the rule that each later element carries one additional sensible quality (guṇa) compared to the previous.
Alongside rituals, law, and other sciences, the Agni Purana also preserves systematic metaphysics—here summarizing a technical cosmology of principles (tattvas) used across Indian philosophy, yoga, and Purāṇic creation accounts.
By mapping how egoity and the elements arise, the verse supports discernment (viveka): seeing the self as distinct from evolving tattvas helps loosen identification with ahaṅkāra and material qualities, aiding liberation-oriented practice.